Yes, this really happened!
Documentation timeline taken from Pennsylvania Archives, 1765
PA Archives 1765
pp 214-248
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Gen Gage to Gov Penn 1765
New York March 30th 1765
Sir,
I have had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 22d Inst with Copys of Messages which had passed between you and the Assembly of Pennsylvania by which I perceive it is the resolution of the Assembly to Evacuate Fort Augusta as soon as you are Satisfied of Peace being firmly Established with the Indians multiplicity of Forts and Posts already occupied by the King's Forces will not admit of an increase and I must Endeavor as soon as Possible to reduce the number of Posts the King's Troops now actually Garrison For this reason I must decline accepting your offer of taking Possession of Fort Augusta as soon as the Provincial Forces shall be Disbanded Some of the Traders whose goods were destroyed at Sidelong have been here and represented that they were carrying the Goods to Fort Pitt to supply Mr. Croghan with such Quantitys as he should have occasion for in the Service he is employed in But by a Letter from Mr. Croghan of the 2d Inst from Fort Pitt he informs me some of his goods were got up there and the rest daily Expected And I see by a Letter from Sir William Johnson that Croghan had purchased the Goods he intended to carry with him of Smallman & Field at Philadelphia I am of opinion when you have Examined into this Affair that it will be found the Traders had hopes of getting first to Market by Stealing up their Goods before the Trade was legally permitted.
I am with great Regard
Sir Your inost Obedient Humble Servant
THOS GAGE
Hon ble Gov r Penn Philadelphia
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Sir Wm Johnson to Gov Penn 1765
Johnson Hall April 12th 1765
Sir,
I have just received your favour of the 21st ult containing ye particulars of ye Destruction of the Indian goods sent from Philadelphia for Fort Pitt upon which head Mr Wharton of that City has been with me and has informed me that the quantity destroyed amounted to about ₤3000 (₤300,000 or $1.25 Mil in today’s currency, http://gaspee.info/history/1000_pounds.htm) in Value that He presuming on the necessity there would be for opening a Trade at the Illinois so soon as it was possessed had sent a Cargo with design to remain at Fort Pitt until such Trade could be opened and earnestly desired my sentiments thereon as he proposed sending more with your permission I answered him that such a Trade would doubtless be expected and must be opened with the Indians so soon as we possessed that Country but not before and this is all I know about the matter not having heard farther concerning it than what you were pleased to inform me of I can hardly think Mr. Croghan would have been anyways interested therein and I have particularly questioned Mr. Wharton about it who positively assures me that he was not was much above taking any such step I have likewise read a Letter from Mr. Croghan since the affair happened wherein he not so much as mentioned it to me but I have since wrote him the subject and flatter myself he will be able to make it appear groundless assertion The Presents on behalf of the Crown which were sent on Credit of Gen l Gage's Warrant were chiefly arrived at Fort Pitt and this Credit amounted to a small sum compared w h that mentioned to have been lost by the Destruction of the Goods which yet I cannot by any means consider other than as private property sent by Persons in Trade to avail themselves of the advantages resulting from the first Commerce at that place and I cannot greatly disapprove of the steps they took for that purpose your License and approbation The Extraordinary behavior of the back Inhabitants be their first motives what they will may yet produce dangerous to the Province their Inveteracy has as yet been extended to but those helpless People under ye Governments protection in which they have judiciously consulted their own safety at the same that they created me no small trouble in preventing them and their Family's from being destroyed Such was the rage of the Indian Confederacy against them for that act of Malice the same spirit had it been exerted against our professed Enemy’s might if prosecuted with proper resolution have done us some service but directed as it was against the helpless it served but to increase the number of our Foes and to shew their contempt of Government All I fear is that these Rash People may do something still more outrageous if opportunity offers wherein tho’ themselves may be the principal sufferers the whole Province may feel it I therefore heartily wish you may be enabled to bring the offenders to justice and shall be extremely glad to hear from you any farther Circumstances relative to the cause of your Journey as I s all not fail transmitting to you any particulars which I may yet hear upon yt subject The Delaware Deputys are still here waiting the arrival of the Delawares of Susquahaoa who retired to Chenapio on the Approach of my Partys ag st their villages last year from which place they have been daily expected with Prisoners for some time past and therefore I hope shortly to be enabled to settle matters with them as well as with those from Ohio &c
I am with great Esteem Sir
Your most obedient & Most Humble Servant
WM JOHNSON
The Hou ble Lieut Gov Penn
Gen Gage to Gov Penn 1765
New York 23d April 1765
Sir,
As affairs are now quiet in your Government I have thought proper to order the Six Companies of the 1st Battalion Royal American Regiment now Quartered at Lancaster to move this way of which I take this opportunity of informing you and hope that you will be pleased to cause them during their march through the Province of Pennsylvania to be provided as usual with Carriages Billets &c or any other assistance they may stand in need of from the Civil Power to Expedite them on their Route
I am with great Regard Sir
Your most obedient Humble Servant
THOS GAGE
Hon’ble Gov’r Penn
Extract of a Letter from Winchester Virginia 1765
Dated 30th April 1765
The frontier Inhabitants of this Colony and Maryland are re moving fast over the Allegheny Mountains in order to Settle and live there The two Hunters who killed the two Indians near Pitts burgh some time ago are so audacious as to boast of the Fact and shew the Scalps publickly what may not such proceedings produce One of these Hunters lives in Maryland the other named Walker lives in Augusta County in this Government
Extract of a Letter from Pensborough
Carlisle 1765
A number of Men from this Settlement went up to Shamokin Fort Augusta to kill the Indians there which caused them all to Fly from that Place
Extract of a Letter from Fort Loudoun 1765
The last news we have had here and which is very Certain is the Killing of Nine Shawanese Indians in Augusta County in Virginia who were passing that way to the Cherokee Nation to war against them and had obtained a Pass from one Col Lewis in that County Yet notwithstanding a number of the Country People met them a few miles from Col Lewis's and Killed nine of them there being but ten in Company.
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Lt C Graydon to Gov Penn 1765
Fort Augusta the 1st May 1765
Sir,
Inclosed are the several Returns of this Garrison for the last Month I received your Honor's Letter by favour of Captain Callender of the 30th January containing Instructions with regard to the Indians frequenting this place which I have punctually obey d They are continually coming and going in Expectation of being provided here with every Necessary they want A few Days ago there appear da Number of White People over the River opposite the Fort three of whom came over here and reported that they were from Cumberland County and set off from thence to the number of fifty intending to look at the Land up Susquehanna and at the Great Island where some of them purposes to go and settle Some of the Party return d before they got this Length others went on another Road towards the Great Island and the rest went a few miles up the West Branch and return d home this way We cannot conjecture what these People's intentions were But they seemed very inquisitive about Indians which made us suspect they had a Design against those who were about us In case your Honor should desire to know the Names of the men who were here I have here inserted them viz John Woods James McMein and James Dickey all of Cumberl ‘d Co’ty A Muncey Man informs me that a Number of Indian Families are immediately going to build Cabins & settle on the Great Island I have nothing more to add but am with greatest Respect
Your Honor's
Most Obedient Humble Servant
C GRAYDON
The Hon’ble John Penn Esquire
Gen Gage to Gov Penn 1765
New York May 2d 1765
Sir,
I am to acknowledge the honor of your Letter of the 22d of April together with a Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the County's of York and Cumberland in the Province of Pennsylvania I have laid this Petition before Brigadier Gen l Bouquet that the same might be taken into due Consideration and I have the honor to transmit you the Report made to me upon the several Heads contained therein It appears from the Report that the Petitioners have no positive Right to the Claims they make and that many of their allegations are without Foundation Some poor People may have suffered and deserve to be redressed and if any method could be fallen upon to alleviate those who are really entitled to redress without having a thousand unjust demands imposed upon the Crown I should be very glad to concur with you in doing them all the service in my Power How to do this 1 am really at a loss to say at present but I shall talk with Captain Barnesley upon it who paid the Horse Masters If the People had set forth to Captain Barnesley and Mr Byers during their sitting upon the Accounts at Carlisle only such cases in which they were really aggrieved tho their Instructions might have prevented their doing immediate Justice their Claims would have been ascertained and reported that some satisfaction might be made them afterwards But their Demands were so very unreasonable and so numerous that the Commissioners were obliged to reject them I have the honor to be with great Regard
Sir Your most obedient humble Servant
THOS GAGE
Hon ble L Gov Penn
Copies of Passes given by William and James Smith 1765
Cumberland Co ss
By William Smith Esq one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace of sad County Permit the Bearer Thos M Cammis to pass to Fort Bedford with nine Kegs of Rum Eight Kegs of Wine One Keg of Spirits One Keg of Molassas Three Kegs of brown Sugar Four Kegs packed with Loaf Sugar and Coffee and Chocolate in all Twenty sir Kegs and one bag of Shoes provided always that this Permit shall not Extend to Carry any Warlike Stores or any Article not herein mentioned
Given under my Hand & Seal 15th May 1765
Signed WM SMITH
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As the Sidling Hill Volunteers have already Inspected these goods and as they are all private property it is Expected that none of these brave fellows will molest them upon the Road as there is no Indian Supplies amongst them
Given under my Hand May 15th 1765
Signed JAS SMITH
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Cumberland ss
Permit the Bearers Alex M Kiney and Laehlan M Kinnon to pass unmolested to and from Anteiatem they behaving themselves Soberly and inoffensively as becomes loyal Subjects they being Soldiers Carrying a Letter to Daniel M Cay and as they say is going to purchase two Cows
Given under my Hand this 20th of May 1765
Signed WM SMITH
Deposition of Lt Charles Grant 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared before me one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for Said County Lieut Charles Grant Who upon his Solemn Oath upon the holy Evangelist of Almighty God Declares that on the 9th of March last James Smith late Lieut in the Pennsylvania Service did in a Riotous manner at the Head of a Body of Armed Men appear before this Fort upon my Seeing Such a Multitude under Arms I sent a man with a Message to their Commander to come & Speak with me He the said James Smith came & acknowledged that he was the Man that Headed Said party I asked him what he meant by appearing with Such a Mob before the King's Fort He said that he came to demand the prisoners which I had at that time in Custody & that he Understood they were to be Committed to Carlisle Goal I asked him what he would do Suppose they were Sent to Carlisle & Escorted by the King's Troops He made answer that his party should first Fire over the Soldiers & if they would not give up the prisoners upon that they were Determined to fight the Troops & die to a Man Sooner than let them prisoners go to Goal 10th of May last a Body of 200 Men as near as I could Guess appeared before this Garrison the above mentioned James Smith being one of their Ring leaders as did likewise arrive at this Fort the Justices Smith Rejonald & Allison Justice Smith & Reyonald desired that I would let them inspect the Goods & that would Satisfy the Rioters I told them that the Goods were by the General's orders under my Care & that I had orders from the General at the same time to send for a Magistrate & take an Inventory of all the Goods Bat could not proceed upon any Such Business at a time when there was Such a Body of Armed Rioters about the Garrison but would be obliged to call upon Some of them next week for that purpose To which Justice Smith made answer that he was not Subject to the General's Orders therefore if he did not get liberty to take an Inventory of them at that time he would not Come again to do it I then Shewed the Justice the orders which I had from Brigadier General Bouquet for permitting Goods to pass as likewise the permit Joseph Spear had from the Commanding officer at Fort Pitt for the Carrying of Goods for the Support of the Troops on the Communication to which Justice Smith answered that the Commanding officer's pass was no pass and that no Military Officer's pass would do without a Magistrate's pass Justice Smith said likewise that this was not a King's Fort nor was this the Ring's Road & said that fire Hundred men would not Escort up these Goods without a Magistrate's pass 28th May I was Riding out & about a mile from this post as I was Coming home in Company with two other Men was Waylay d by five Men Arm d Namely James Smith Samuel Owens John Piery & two others whose names I don t know all under the Command of the aforesaid James Smith Some called out to Catch me others to Shoot me On which I Rushed through them & on passing one of them attempted to Catch my Horse by the Bridle Notwithstanding I passed them all and when they saw that I was out of their hands one of them fired a Gun whether at me or my Horse I cannot say at which my horse Started into the Thickett which occasioned my falling the Rioters then came up to me made me as they said the King's prisoner upon which one of them said take the Durk of the Rascall I asked them for what They said they would let me know that before I would go home I asked them where they were taking me to They said they would take me before Justice Reyonald I ask d if it would not do as well to go before Justice Smith being the most Convenient They Said that their orders was to Bring me before Justice Reyonald They Brought me into the Woods that night Seven Miles from my post & there Kept me all night without any Manner of Shelter they told me that unless I would give up the Arms that I had in the Fort that they would Carry me away into the Mountains & keep me there & that in the meantime the Country would Rise & take the Fort by force of Arms & by that means they would have all the goods in the Fort as well as their Own Anns I told them that it was not in my power to give up their Arms without orders from my Commanding officer & told them they would be dealt with as Rebels if they would do what they threatened Their Commander James Smith said that they were as Ready for a Rebellion as we were to oppose it & they acknowledge that their proceedings were Contrary to law & after holding a Council Determined to go off to Carolina & take me along They set out & brought me about eight Miles farther I having no Doubt but they would bring me to Carolina I ask d them what they would have me do in the Matter as I told them before how much it was out of my power to Deliver up their Arms They ask d me if I would give Security to Deliver up their Arms or pay ₤40 To which I consented Rather than go to Carolina on which they agreed to Bring me to an Inn at Justice Smith's Where I gave a Bond for ₤40 it I did not deliver up their Arms in five Weeks As they were taking me away they Declared their Determination in firing upon the Troops in Case any of them Should be sent in Quest of Mr. The aforesaid James Smith was the Ringleader of the party that took Serj MaGlasken belonging to the Garrison under my Command & used him very ill Some days after I was Released from the Rioters I was at the House of Justice Smith Where I met those five Men that took me Carried me away as above Mentioned & I told Justice Smith that those were the Men that took me away & in what Manner they used me But he took no Notice of it
Deposition of John Shelby 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared before me one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for said County John Shelby who upon his Solemn Oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God Declares that some Time in the Beginning of May last he went to a Tavern near Justice Smith's where there were about Twenty Men under Arms then But was Informed that a number had left the aforementioned Tavern that Morning in Order to stop some pack Horses that were then above Fort Loudoun at pasture That the Men mentioned to be at the Tavern & this Deponent went to one Widow Barr's where they met the party coming back the most of whom were Blacked & this Deponent heard them say they had killed some Horses & Whipped the Driven soon after a party of Highlanders came up upon which some firing ensued upon both sides one of the Country people being Wounded through the Thigh the Action being Ended the Country People all returned to Cunningham's Tavern & this Deponent went to Fort Loudoun & on his Return Home saw the same party at said Tavern That this Deponent stopped at Justice Smith's who went with him to the Tavern & having some Conference Together about These Disturbances Mr Smith said it was a pity some Man would not undertake to Settle those Highlanders for they would ruin the Country upon which this Deponent Answered he thought there was enough had undertaken it already that then this Deponent leaving Justice Smith with those people at said Tavern That some Time after this Deponent had occasion to go to Justice Smith's House & Calling at the aforementioned Tavern he saw a number of Men Collected under Arms & Justice Smith in Company likewise Thomas Orbison & William Duffield &c & further saith not
Sworn & Subscribed Before
Jas Maxwell
Deposition of James Wilkins 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared before me one of his Majesty's Justices for said County personally appeared James Wilkins who upon his Oath Saith That on or about the Last Day of May last he being at the House of Justice Smith where he received some Horse Loads of Goods from John Gibson to be carried to Fort Pitt at which place he saw a number of armed Men some of Whom Did Declare that they were at the taking of Lieu Grant Commanding Officer at Fort Lowdon And this Deponent further Saith that being that Evening at the House of James Cunningham an Inn Contiguous to Justice Smith’s house where Justice Smith & James Smith who seemed to have headed the Above Mentioned Armed Party & others were in Company by themselves this Deponent did hear Justice Smith say that as John Gibson did Condescend to have his Goods Inspected by the Country People if any of them should Destroy or Offer to Molest said Gibson's Goods he would use his Endeavors to find Out & Prosecute the Transgressors in that Fact & said that if he would take in hand to find them out he would find them sooner than any Other Person who had hitherto undertaken to find Out the like and further saith not
Signed JAS WILKINS
Sworn & Subscribed Before
Jas Maxwell
Warrant to Arrest Leonard McGlasken 1765
Cumberland County ss
To The Constable of Peters Township Complaint upon Oath being made to me Wm Smith being one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for said County by James Brown that he was Wounded by being Shot thro the Thigh by Leonard McGlasken Serjeant You are Hereby Commanded in his Majesty's name to apprehend him the Said McGlasken & him the said McGlasken being so taken or Delivered you are to Bring Before me or the Next Justice for Said County in order to answer to Said Complaint & bo farther prosecuted Against According to Law
WM SMITH
A True Coppy of a Warrant
A List of Loading Belonging to Mr John Gibson June 1 1765
Viz
3 Caggs of Wine
20 Loads of Dry Goods
1 Cagg of Sugar
1 Load of Trunks
34 Caggt of Rum and Spirrits
23 Weeding hoes
We they Subscribers being chosen by Jn Gibson with the consent and Approbation of WillTM Smith John Ranwells and John Allison Esquires to Inspect a Quantity of Liquors Dry Goods &c Which Goods &c the said Gibson is about to carry to Fort Pitt In pursuance whereof we have Examined all the Loads Included in the Above Invoice and have found no Warlike Stores or any Article that in our opinion can be any Disadvantage or Enable the Indians to point their Arms against the Frontier Inhabitants
Given under our hands
this first Day of June 1765
Signed ROBT SMITH FRANCIS PATTERSON
Cumberland County ss
To all his Majesty's Leidge Subjects to whom these L Presents shall come With Concurrence and Approbation of Jn Rannells & Jn Allison Esq you are hereby in his Majesty's Name to permit ye above Named Gibson with Seven Drivers and forty one Horses and Loading to Pass unmolested as far as Fort Bedford or to ye Allagenea Mountain on his way to Fort Pitt they behaving themselves Soberly and Inofencively as becomes Loyal Subjects
Given under my hand & Seal being one of His Majesty's Justices of ye Peace for said County this 1st June 1765
Signed WM SMITH
Statement of Ralph Nailer 1765
When I Presented the Depositions of my Drivers that Had Been whip d by the Black Boys the time my Horses was Killed to Mr. Wm Allen he then told me to Wait on him at Five o clock that Afternoon and he would Give me an Answer I went and he told me he had look d them Over and Desired to Know what I wanted him to do in it 1 told him as they had Acted Contrary as I thought to the Laws of our Government and him the only Person to Apply to For Redress Hop d he would Issue out King's Writes and Have them Prosecuted According to Law at which he told me as there was no person Killed he had no Business with it and Further Said if that Officer Sarjeant or Soldiers had Killed any of that Party he Would have sent for them & had them Tryed for their Lives at which I told him I thought a party of men Assembld on the King's Road in Disguise as they were and Robing People of their Private Propertys I Imagined had the Soldiers Killed them the English Laws would have Protected them tho’ the Black’d Men Gave the first fire he then said there was no such Law only in England to put a Stop from Killing the King's Deer he then said we had no Business to Carry the Goods at which I told him they Were Chiefly for the use of the Garrison and he said five or six Loads was Quite Sufficient for that Garrison and not forty or Fifty tho’ Great Part of them Loads was the Officers Stores Belonging to Fort Pitt and the Remainder was Entirely Rum Spirits & Wine Except Seven Loads of Loaf Sugar Shirts Shoes and other Dry Goods he then Said we had Done Wrong in Carrying the Goods and he had done Wrong in Shooting our horses & Whipping the Drivers and that we were a Lawless People.
RALPH NAILER
NB I Delivered the Horse Drivers Depositions to Mr. Allen the Second Day of June 1765
Sir Wm. Johnson to Gov. Penn 1765
Johnson Hall
June 7th 1765
Sir,
I am just favoured with your Letter of the 23d ulto., with the enclosures and I am much obliged to you for the particulars you communicated on the late affair at Sideling Hill &o Mr. Croghan has cleared up the affair to the General and has wrote me a Letter of the 12th ulto., wherein he informs me that he had settled all matters with the Ind & was to proceed for the Illinois in a Day or two accompanied by the Chiefs of several Nations He appears very much concerned at the charges insinuated against him which he removes confessing he encouraged the Traders to be in readiness at Fort Pitt in case he got possession & this was done he says by the approbation of Col Bouquet When I came to Philadelphia Messrs. Baynton & Wharton told me that they had a quantity of goods which they had prepared to take to the Illinois in Sixty three when Col Bouquet was to go to take possession of that Country & told me he had promised them at that time the exclusive liberty of going with him which I know he had done and that those goods lay still on their hands and desired me to give them my opinion whether I thought a Trade would be admitted there or whether they could take them to Fort Pitt & there lodge them in the King's Store till the Trade would be opened with authority I answered them that undoubtedly when we had possession in the Illinois a Trade would be allowed & that with respect to sending y goods to Fort Pitt they ought to apply to Col Bouquet for his liberty and I certainly encouraged them in this as I knew there was but little goods here to supply the Indians when things might be settled with them & the Trade opened which I thought then and do now would be for the good of the Service and I never understood that those goods was intended to be sold to Indians till the Trade was opened by authority They desired me to mention their design to Col Bouquet which I did and y necessity which I thought there would be of goods here when the Trade should be opened and he told me as I had a Pass to take up the Presents if I thought it necessary I might pass those goods under it in consequence of which as I had left part of the Presents in the care of Cap Calendar I gave a pass to bring out part of theirs in which step I find I have been wrong Concluding with a Desire to throw up his Employment immediately after executing the Service on which he has been sent I was of opinion it would be no easy task to bring the persons concerned in the late riotous act to Justice as I believe there are too many of the back Inhabitants of ye same way of thinking with them & who judged them doing a meritorious act I am very sensible of the consequences which may attend the Indians settling at or about y Big Isleand & in that neighbourhood and I shall do all in my power to prevent it alt ho I know they are all very fond of that Country & must quit it with y greatest reluctance but I shall lay before them & the Six Nations the necessity there is for their being at a greater distance as well on their own acct as ours and I hope the Boundary I have lately proposed agreeable to the Lords of Trades Plan will be found very advantageous to the Province of Pennsylvania if approved at Home & that I am impowered as I expect to settle that affair I have lately had the pleasure of hearing from Mr. Penn on that and other Subjects The Inhabitants whose Relations have been murdered or plundered have doubtless great reason to dislike the Enemy Indians their Hatred was notwithstanding alike ags all Indians who came in their way a manifest proof of their Ignorance but those who were our Enemies being now admitted into a Peace by the Government they ought to reflect on the dangerous consequences attending an ill timed resentment which would prove of no advantage to themselves & might be of bad consequence to their Country From all their late conduct & from Cap Graydon's letter there is but too much reason to apprehend they will not be at quiet till some act is committed that may have very bad effects they may possibly obstruct the Trade unless it is guarded by Escorts Their design to settle up the Susquahana & at ye Great Island is a manifest proof that they are either ignorant of what their conduct may produce or very indifferent about it because all the Confederacy of Indians must take the alarm at such a Settlement & consider our desire to prevent them from re establishing themselves there as solely caleulated to introduce our People into that Country a Circumstance which must greatly add to their discontent & raise their jealousy to a very high Pitch but I hope you will be able to prevent these imprudent People from putting their design into execution as there is more than Sufficient of Vacant Land for them till affairs are on a better footing I enclose you a Copy of my late Treaty with the Delawares by which you will perceive that I have taken upon me to promise them a Trade during their good behaviour & this was an article they earnestly desired Some of the Western Nations the Chip pawaes are now with me and have renewed their Engagements and I have received advice that the Shawanese have at length delivered up y Prisoners & sent off Deputys to treat about Peace & that I may daily expect them The Plan for Indian Affairs not being yet settled prevents me from taking many steps in my Department which when I am impowered to do will I hope be of great Service to the Frontiers as I shall then be enabled to pursue one uniform system with a variety of Persons in the different Quarters for the preventing Disputes & Differences and transacting all affairs with the Indians I shall let you know as soon as I can what success I may have in dissuading the Indians from resettling the Great Island &c and
I am with great Esteem
Sir Your most obedient & most humble Servant
WM JOHNSON
Directed The Hon ble Lieu Gov Penn
James Smith to Comm’r Escorting Party 1765
Smith's Run the 12th of June 1765
Sir,
Upon being well informed that you were coming up to Escort King's Goods only I have used my influence with the people to prevent their opposing your March or so much as Examining What you Carried But now a Report prevails that under covert of said Cloathing & on Dependence of the Guard hath presumed to March With Indian Goods & Warlike Stores upon which Report the Country people is again Enraged If the above Report is false Be so Kind as to let me Know & I will endeavour to satisfy the Young Men
I am, Sir,
a sincere lover of my King
and Country, & obed’t
H’ble Servant
JAS SMITH
Directed To the Commnnder of the Party at or near Fort Loudon Escorting Necessarys for tho King's Garrisons To be forwarded by Lieu Grant
Wm Smith to Lt Grant 1765
From My Own House 22d June 1765
Sr,
I am Sorry upon your account that you persist in Refusing to Mirer Mr. McGIashen to the Civil Authority I wish you would be kind enough to take a Ride & I will show you the Act of Parliament in that & such like cases Made & provided which I suppose will convince you of the Risque you are Running As to the Guns I have no Concern with them only as a friend I would use the freedom to advise you to give them to the Owners for however Unlawfully they were taken I am sure they are much more unlawfully Detained & from the Rage of the People I am afraid if you persist in Detaining them the Consequences will be bad
I am,
Sir,
Your Humble Servant,
WM Smith
Directed To Lien Grant Commanding at Loudon
Smith's Run June 19th 1765
Sir,
The Arms that are detained in Loudon you may keep them, keep them, keep them!
I am, &c,
JAMES SMITH
James Smith to Lt Grant 1765
Coneygochug June 17th 1765
Honoured Sir,
I was occasionally at Loudon a few days ago & had the opportunity of Speaking with Mr. Grant who told me all the Satisfaction Colonel Rc’d desired for taking him prisoner was that I should acknowledge my fault to Mr. Grant Which I refused to do Except Mr. Grant would also Confess he had used the Country ill This he Refused to do & said he had done nothing but his Duty If Colonel Reid will only say it is the Duty of an Officer at Fort Loudon Repeatedly to send out Mr. Grant & a party to Red private Quarrels in the Country I will Confess my fault to the above mentioned Gent I acknowledge my fault to Col Reid Begging pardon for the same I don t accuse Mr. Grant with all the Hostilitys Committed by McGlashen for I have reason to Believe McGlashen acted Contrary to his orders & concealed many 4f the actions from his Commanding officer
I am,
Honoured Sir Your obedient Humble Servant
JAS SMITH
Directed To Lieu Charles Grant Commander at Loudon
Deposition of John Smith 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared me One of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for said County John Smith Who upon his solemn Oath Declares and Saith That some Time in May last he this Deponent had Occasion to go to Justice Smith's & at One Cunningham's Tavern near said Smith's he was in Company with about Thirty Men under Arms with an intent as he apprehended to stop goods from going Backward after some Time Robert Allison was Coming past said Tavern with some Mares & Colts which they thought to be Pack Horses & said it would be well to shoot them however Allison passed on & allighted at Justice Smith's House where was Thomas Orbison William Duffield & Samuel Davis & this Deponent saith that those Men the Tavern said they would Whip the above Mentioned Allison before he left that place unless he would give satisfaction to them for attempting to Carry out the Goods which were Destroyed near Sidelong Hill & this Deponent saith he saw the same People passing & Repassing between the said Tavern & Justice Smith's House
Sworn 22d July 1765 Before JOHN ALLISON
Lt Charles Grant to Gen Gage 1765
Fort Loudoun August 24th 1765
Sir,
I thought it my Duty to Send your Excellency a Coppy of the Depositions of Serjeant McGlashan and severals of the Men who were with him opposing the Outrages Committed by the Country people near Fort Loudon & also the Depositions of Several other people of Credit Concerning the Assembling of the Rioters at different times at Justice Smiths and his behaviour on those Occasions This I thought the more Necessary as your Excellency may perhaps think proper to send Coppys of them to Governor Penn As I have great Reason to think attempts have been & will be made to impose upon him by false Representations, from a Sett of Men, who have acted against all Laws Except those of their own making & have Combined against the King's Troops & I fear the Governor may be too apt to listen to their false Assertions as a Number of the Magistrates of the County have lately drawn up a Remonstrance or Something of that Kind to the Governor in a private manner in which I have great Reason to believe they have endeavour d to thro’ the Blame off themselves and their people & fix it Upon me & the Garrison I Command This appears to be the Case as Justice Smith who was Sent for by the Governor on Receipt of a Coppy of Col Reid's letter from your Excellency has Returned & in Consequence of the above Remonstrance I’m informed Stands in a fair light with tho’ Governor Tho’ I Humbly presume there is the Strongest presumption of Justice Smiths Countenancing and assisting the Rioters I have sent your Excellency a Coppy of one of Justice Smiths passes together with the Certificate of James Smith his Brotherinlaw an Insolent Troublesome fellow who has Constantly appeared at the Head of those Rioters I Rec’d a letter some time ago from the Governor desiring me to send him my Deposition in order that he might the Better be enabled to bring the offenders to punishment I accordingly sent it him but as I have Reason to Apprehend that a great part of the Remonstrance of the Magistrates was in opposition to my Deposition & Set forth that the Reasons of the Differences between the Soldiers & the Country people was the high Bribes given by the Owners of the Goods to the Soldiers to assist them in their undertaking I should be glad if your Excellency would order me a Coppy of said Remonstrance When at the Request of Captain Callendar I ordered the Serjeant and party first out to assist in Recovering such of the Goods aa were not Burn d Mr Callender told the Serjeant he woud give them something for their Trouble & for every person he Coud take who coud be proved to be Concern’d at Burning the Goods he would give a Reward of 10 But I told him that was unnecessary as the Serj must obey the Orders I had given him I have also sent your Excellency a Coppy of Justice Smith Warrant for Apprehending Serj McGlashan for Wounding one Brown a Rioter who was perfectly Recovered some time before he Issued the Warrant I should be glad to be inform’d by your Excellency whether I have acted Right or not in not Delivering him up to the Constable on the Warrant from Smith who in my opinion has forfeited every Right to act as a Majistrate & who would have got the poor Serjt Try’d by Jury of his own adherents with Mr. Armstrong of Carlisle at their head who favours the Rioters & would have had no Mercy on him I should also be glad of your Excellency's Orders with Regard to the Arms taken from the Rioters & now in the Garrison Some of those fellows had the Insolence to Send me Word by the Constable that Colonel Rec’d at the head of his Regim Should not take them from F Loudoun The above Mention’d Brown who was wounded was seen a Day or two before Blackd at the head of a party who Search d some Wagons & the Morning before he was wounded he fired of his Gun as a Signal to the party to attack the pack Horses & Drivers tho’ he is Represented as an Innocent Country Man about his Lawful Business I am inform’d by good authority that Mr. Allen Chief Justice of this Province has said that if I should come to Philad he shoud be obligd to arrest me by a provential Warrant on account of my proceedings at this Post As I have inclosed Your Excellency a particular account of my Transactions Since the Commencement of these Disturbances I submit to you whether I have acted Right or Wrong
I am,
Sir, with due Respect
Your Excellencys most obedient & very H ble Servant
CHARLES GRANT Lieu 42 Reg Commanding at Fort Loudoun
His Excellency Gen Gage Directed On his Majesties Service To His Excellency The Honble General Gage Commander in Chief of his Majestys Forces in N America New York
Deposition of Leonard McGlashan &c 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared before me One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said County the Following Persons Viz Leonard McGlashan Serjeant, John McGill, George Sutherland, Daniel Steward, John Corbitt, Daniel McRay, John McDonald, junior John McDonald, Senior Angus McKay, John McDonald, younger David McKenzie, Hugh Monro, and Archd McMillon Soldiers in y 42d Reg whomc being all Sworn on the Holy Evangelisht of Almighty God Disposeth that Being Orderd by Lieut Charles Grant on the 6th of May last with the above mention d Number of Men to the House of Rouland Harris to Relieve the Pack Horse Men that were taken by a party of Men Disguised with their faces Blacken d but upon my arrival at sd Harrises House this party of Rioters was gone not knowing which way they went I Press d the afore mentioned Harris to Pilot me the way when upon our arrival at the Widow Barrs House they fired one Shot supposed to be upon us we not thinking that we were so Near them and Looking from whence the Shott was fired we saw the party PCall d out to Stop bnt they not Stopping one Shott was fired upon them by some of my party in Return of which severall Shotts were fired supposed on us on our Retreat to the Widow Barrs I then gave Orders to fire and my party being on Clear Ground and they in the Woods oblidged us to take possession of the Widow Barrs House where we were fired upon Warmly for some time the Black Boys being between Seventy and Eighty in Number as Near as I can Gues Before we went into the House we made one Man Prisoner he being under Arms and appeared as if he had been Black d in the face but had attempted to Rub it off but did not do it Effectually which Prisoner we kept about one hour and then Released him being per swaded by a Country Man that happened to Come there as he rayd by Chance and told us that if I did not Release the afore mentioned prisoner Neither me nor any of my party would Ever Gitt back to the Fort upon which I Released him and Proceeded back to Fort Loudoun
Sworn & Subscrib this 20th day of August 1765
Before Me
John Allison, his mark X, John McGill mark his X, George Sutherland mark his X, Daniel Stewart mark his X, John Corbitt mark his X, Daniel McCoy mark his X, John McDonald mark his X, John, Archibald McMullon mark his X, Leonard McGlashan Serj his X, John McDonald Sen mark his X, Angus McCoy mark his X, John McDonald Younger mark his X, David McKinzie mark his X, Hugh Monroe mark X
Deposition of Leonard McGlashan &c 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared before me One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said County the Following Persons Vi Leonard McGlashan Serjeant Duncan Cameron Corp John McGill George Sutherland John McDonald Senior John McDonald younger Angus McKay Donald McKay John Corbitt John Dure John Cruckshanks and Lachlin McKinon Soldiers of the 42 Reg Whome being all Sworn on the Holy Evangelisht of Almighty God Disposeth that on the 6th of March 1765 that the abo mention d Serj McGlashan with the aforesaid party was Orderd by Lieut Charles Grant Commanding Fort Loudoun about 9 o Clock that Night to proceed on to Sidling Hill where the Goods were Destroy d to protect and Bring back to this Fort any part of said Goods that Could be found and any party that I should meet that seemed Likely to have been at the Distroying of said Goods I was to make prisoners of them or as many of them as I Could and bring them to this Fort I proceeded with my party and at the Entrance of the Gap which leads over the Mountain to the Great Coave about 12 o Clock at Night I mett with a party of Men to the Number of Seven who Kun off upon their Perceiving us I Called to them severall times to Stop but to no purpose Some of them bad new Blanketts about them it being moonlight we could Plainly Discern them which Blanketts we Lookd upon to be part of the Goods that we were sent to protect they Running away in the Confused Manner that they did together with the Blanketts which they had about them Gave me Great Reason to believe that these People had a hand in Destroying the Goods Consequently I gave order to persue them which was Done and about half way up the Mountain made one prisoner which I myself took with two Rifles in his hand & one other prisoner taken by some off the party These two prisoners I Committed to the Care of the Corporall and four Men in the Rear of my Party while I Proceeded in the front and at the Top of the Mountain the Corporal in the Rear perceiving some people Creeping thro the Woods Called to the front upon which Turned Back and Gave Chace to them thro the Woods upon which there were two Shots fired by some of the party Contrary to my Orders 1 then proceeded to the Great Coave to the House of Will McOonnel it Being the place where the Rioters Rendesvouzed at the Day they Burnt the Goods as we was Inform d I thought in all probability I might find some of them there consequently on my arrival at the said House I made strict Enquiry and Examined Every Body in the House but finding no Reason to suspect any of them it being a publick Inn I Left the Corporal and four Men there to take Care of the prisoners while I with the Rest of my party Proceeded to the Ground where the Goods were destroyd at which place we arrived about Six o Clock in the Morning of the seventh Instant and found a few Horse Loads of Rum untouched but the dry Goods in Ashes the former I brought Back with me to the Cove from whence I sett out with my party and two prisoners made the Night before to Fort Loudoun when at or near the place that the prisoner taken by Serj McGlashan was found a Scalping Knife supposed to be part of the Goods and on this side of the Mountain much about the same place where I mett the people in Blanketts the Night before I was met by four Country Men under Arms one of whom asked me where I had been I told them in the Cove he asked me what Business brought me there I answered on the King's Service Ask d me if I did not make some prisoners I told them I had made two ask d me what they were made prisoners for I answered for Destroying the King's Goods asked me where I was Determined to bring them to I answered to Fort Loudoun he say d they should not be Brought to Loudoun untill he would know for what to which I made answerd that as he seemed Determined to Rescue them I would make him prisoner as well as them which I did accordingly Corporal Cameron and two off the party being Left in the Hear had not opportunity of hearing the said Conversation between the Serjeant and the Country People and upon my making him a prisoner there then appeared a party off about Fifty Men as Near as we could Gues all Armed with their thumbs upon the locks of their Guns and Presented at me and my party one of which swore Blodily that he would Shoot me through the Heart in Consequence of which 1 Cloas d with him and Disarmed him and made him fall in with the Rest of the Prisoners and at the same time Gave Orders to the party under my Command to Disarm and make prisoners of as many of them as they Could which wis Done making four prisoners out of this party that appeared to Rescue the two prisoners the Night before they Rendesvoused again and mett me on the Road as I march Towards the Fort I asked them where they were going they answerd that they were going a hunting I told them that if they were hunting us that they should find us better Game and Commanded them to Clear the Road for the Kings Troops which they would not do untill I was Obliged to Order my party to fix their Bayonetts the sight of which procured me & my party a Clear passage to Fort Loudoun
Sworn & Subscribd this 20th day of August 1765
Before me
John Allison Leonald McGlashan Serj Dun n Cameron Corp his Donald X McCoy mark his John X Coebitt mark his John X Dure mark his John X Crookshanks mark his Lauglan X McKennon mark his John X McGill mark his George X Sutherland mark bis John X McDonald Senr mark his John X McDonald you mark his Angus X McCoy
Deposition Henry Prather 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally Appear d before me one of his Majisties Justices for said County Henry Prather who upon his Solemn Oath on tho holy Evangelists of Almighty God Deposeth that on or about the 18th of July last there was a Number of Majestrates Conven d at Fort Loudoun Among which were Messrs Campbell & Perry Esquires who were the Acting Majestrates Examining into different Matters about Some Disturbances that had happen d lately likewise Concerning an Advertisement Propagated as Justice Smith Imagined By Thomas Romberg or Alexander Williamson who were Both Sworn to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth & Answer all Such Questions as Should be Ask d Concerning Said Advertisement & further this Deponent Sayeth there were Severall Other Depositions taken the Same day Respecting Justice Smith's Conduct when they were only Sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth without Mentioning the whole truth and Answer to Such Questions as Should be Ask d Some time after on the Same day this Deponent being in Company with a Certain Samuel Finley who lives with Justice Smith ask d Said Finley upon his Conscience if he had Declar’d the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth Concerning Justice Smith Finley Answer d it was hard touching his Conscience with it for that he had Sworn nothing but the truth and had Answer d Such Questions as was Ask d of him likewise Added ho would as Soon Swear for Justice Maxwell as for Justice Smith if he was Call d upon & this Deponent further Declares that it was his opinion that Said Finley did look upon his Deposition Binding upon him to Declare the whole truth and further Sayeth there was a Deposition taken from one Price in favour of Justice Smith which be this Deponent Objected Against for Several Reasons Viz for his appearing Att the Head of a Riotous party at Sundry times & for Embazelling the goods of Joseph Spears which was Carried from or near Fort Loudoun to Maryland & left in his Care likewise for Carrying off a Cagg of Rum Att the Same time when a pretence of Burning Said goods of M Spears was Committing these Objections this Deponent laid in against Said Price Att the time when his Deposition was taking & offer d to prove the Same By Evidence Notwithstanding this Deposition of Price's was transmitted to his Honour the Governour as he this Deponent has been Inform d this Deponent further Adds that being in Company with Justice Perry and Discoursing About the Said price M Perry Said it was fitter Such a fellow Should be Committed than to have his Oath & Added he thought a Pitty it was not in his power to Secure all Such &c And further this Deponent Sayeth that the Majestrates had Agreed to Sit in the fort & when they Appear d Ready to Begin Business they the Majestrates ask d for Evidences which was Answer d the Commanding Officer would let none of those people into the Garrison as they had appear d Severall times Before the Garrison under Arms upon which Justice Campbell Answer d let us go Some where Else for the Commanding Officer was quite Right not to let any of these people In or if he did it was more than he Could Answer for and Alight Perhaps Affect his Commission & further this Deponent Saycth not
H Y PRATHER
Sworn and Subscribed this 12th September 1765
Before me
JNO ALLISON
Justices Maxwell and Allison if called upon will confirm what is contain d in the above Deposition
Deposition Thomas Romberg 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally Appear d before me One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for Said County Thomas Romberg Who Upon his Solemn Oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God Deposeth that On or About the 29th May Last Next Day After Lieut Charles Grant was taken Prisoner I went the Same Road to Enquire what became of him Going to M Nath McDowell I found an Advertisement and in Cumming home I let M Grant know of it he Ask d me for a Copy of which I Give him one the Original was so much Blotted with the Durt after I took a Copy off it I did not take Much Notice of it which is Destroy d After Some time there was a Court of Inquiry held at this post by a number of Justices of the Peace they Oall d for me & Justice Campbell & Piero Ask d me in what Manner I Came by that Advertisement & if I Could Give my Oath how and in what manner I Came by it I told them that I Could Which was in the Manner following of which I made Oath Viz That I found the said Advertisement upon the Publick Road Leading to M Nath McDowell's that I was not the Author of the Same nor I did not know who the Author was Some time after Justice Smith Came from Philadelphia he was here & the Sheriff the Sheriff Call d me into M Christy's house & told me that he Wanted to Speak to me Comming in he Shew d me a Writ he had for me when I saw it I went up to Justice Smith & told him that the Sheriff had a Writ for Me that I would be glad if I Could Settle it here without taking me down to Jail to Carlisle upon Which he Made Answer that it Could be Settled if I would Give the Author off that Advertisement Upon Which I made Answer that I did not know more About it than what I have Sworn to Well then says he the Law will Condemn You that You are the Author of the Same After some Conference he told roe that he pit d me as I was Ignorant of the Law Well says I all that they or You can do to me would bo to hang me or Send me out the Country No Says he but it will Cost You Some Money At the Same time Messrs Christy & McCormick had some talk together on which Justice Smith Said Gentlemen None of your Whispering upon this Affair
THOMS ROMBERG
Sworn & Subscribed this 12th Day of Sept 1765 at Fort Louden Before
JAS MAXWELL
To his Excellency General Gage Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in North America
The Petition of Thomas Romberg Most Humble Sheweth That y ur Excellency's Petitioner the Day after Lieut Grant was taken Prisoner being anxious about his Fate went Out into the Country to try if he Could gett any Intelligence of him and on the High Road found an Advertisement as is mention d in the Affidavit Anexed and being Called upon Swore to all he knew of the Matter but some time thereafter when he Least Expected it he was taken by a Warrant at the Instance of Justice Smith who Seems Determined to persecute him and to fine him of a Sum of Money which he is Unable to Pay As he has the Honour to Act as Commissary to the Troops at this post and as he Can Expect no Justice before any Court of Law in this Country but Rather Oppression he therefore Humbly implores your Excellency's Protection against his unjust Persecutor
And your Petitioner will Ever Pray &c
THOS ROMBERG
Commissary at Fort Loudoun
Extract Letter from Lieut Grant to Hon Thomas Gage 1765
Extract of a Letter from Lieut Grant Commanding at Fort Loudoun to His Excellency Major General Hon Thomas Gage Commander in Chief &ca &ca &ca Dated Fort Loudoun 16th Sept 1765
It gives me the greatest Concern to find that Complaints should have been made against me to your Excellency by Governor Penn I must therefore Suppose that the Authors of these Complaints are too deeply Concerned in the late Riots Committed near this Post to give You a fair and Candid Representation of my Con duct But as I am Conscious to myself of having Acted according to the best of my Capacity and Without any other motive than to give Assistance to the Distressed I will therefore Enumerate every Action that I think my Enemies who are numerous can take hold of and Humbly Submit them to Your Excellency at the properest Judge I thought it an Indispensable duty in Me as part of the Convoy of Goods which were Destroyed were Represented to be the property of the Crown to give all the Assistance in my Power for their Protection and to Assist every Subject also in the Defence of his property seeing the whole Country Almost in Arms and Certain Magistrates whose Duty it was to Quell such lawless proceedings Appearing openly witlyin Armed Banditti whom they seemed to Countenance in their lawless Me sures My Enemies I am told have Accused me of receiving high Bribes for saving these Goods which I afterwards protected in Consequence of Your Excellency's Order but I Assure Your Excellency that I never did and none but mean Spirited Wretches Void of Honor or Honesty themselves would have dared to Accuse any Officer holding His Majesty's Commission of so mean an Action I Confess that M Cal lender did contrary to my Inclination give some money openly to the Soldiers as they had risqued their Lives and on different Occasions Suffered a good deal of Fatigue having also Carried the whole Goods belonging to that Company into the Fort on their Backs to prevent their being Pillaged Another Objection made against me as I am told and the most Weighty is that I got from a Constable Possession of a Warrant Issued by Justice Smith for apprehending a Serjeant under my Command on a Supposition that he had Wounded one of the Rioters who it can be proved was very Active in that Affair and who was long recovered of his Wound before the said Warrant was Issued And it was a Considerable time thereafter that the Constable happening to come to the Fort I thought of Asking him for the Warrant which he gave me And I Confess I have kept it with a design to make Use of it against Justice Smith and thereby to prove that tho’ he would give me no Re dress for the gross Insult offered to me by those lawless Fellows who Carried me from my Post Prisoner into the Wood and whom I met at his own House and Complained of to him without Re dress Yet he had the Assurance afterwards to Issue Said Warrant with a Malicious design as I had reason to believe to persecute the poor Serjeant who had received hard usage for doing his Duty And who I thought it Incumbent on me to Protect from the merciless Rioters who must have been his Judges I Confess also that as Justice Smith had Appeared to me to trample upon the Laws by being so deeply Concerned with those Robbers which I have Still reason to think will be proved I therefore did not Consider him any longer as a Magistrate and used the freedom to keep the Warrant which he was Extremely desirous of recovering from me Suspecting the use I intended to make of it Another Complaint made against me is that when the Magistrates Assembled at Loudoun by Order of Governor Penn to Enquire into the Conduct of some of their Brethren they came into the Fort and Intended there to proceed to Business But as I Observed that Several of the Rioters were present who had at different times Openly Appeared before the Fort in Arms and who were Called there to appear as Evidences for Justice Smith I thought it my Duty to Object to their coming in which gave great Umbrage to Justice Smith who has always behaved with great Insolence to me but was Approved of by Justice Campbell of Shippensburg who thought I Acted with prudence and Advised the other Justices to go to a house on the Outside of the Fort and carry on their Examination which they did Accordingly Perhaps also I have been blamed for detaining Some Arms which were taken from the Robbers in the very Act Notwithstanding that the Grand Jury of that County who were Composed of People of the Same Stamp had found them Innocent But Surely I cannot be blamed for detaining the Arms of two of the Fellows who took me Prisoner and who compelled Me to give them Security for 40 for the Delivery of their Arms which are yet in my Possession and which I will keep Notwithstanding of the threatening Messages Still Sent Me till I have your Excellency's Orders for delivering them up or the Governor's Receipt for them
Wm Smith to _____1765
Fort Smith, 14th November 1765
Sir,
Yours of Yesterday is now before me as to my attendance I would cheerfully give it were it necessary but there has been such Invidious Representations given of my conduct when I did attend at Loudoun that common prudence forbids my attendance if any of the Province Stores be committed to my care I will give my Receipt and keep them safe until called for as to the Country Peoples arms as I had no hand in either illegally taking or detaining of them I will keep myself clear Sir I wish you a clearer understanding a tenderer conscience Repentance for Perjury and happiness in time and through eternity
I am, Sir,
Your abused humble servant
Signed WM SMITH
Obligation of James Smith and Samuel Owens 1765
Know all men by these Presents that we hereby holden and firmly bound unto Lieut Charles Grant in the just and full sum of five hundred pounds Pennsylvania Currency to be paid to the said Charles Gr mt his heirs or assigns for the payment whereof we bind ourselves our heirs executors and administrators firmly by these Presents sealed with our seals this 18th day of November 1765 The Condition of this Obligation is such that we shall disperse immediately from this Post without any injury or assault to any Person or Persons and we do hereby further promise that we shall not interrupt or insult any Person or Persons hereafter in going up or coming down if any such thing should be done by any of us or by any of our Advices then this Obligation shall remain in full force and virtue otherwise void.
Signed JAMES SMITH and SAMTJEL OWENS
Witness at Present John McDowell
Signed Wm McDowell and Nath McDowell
Receipt for Guns Captured 1765
Received of Lieutenant Charles Grant of the 42 Regiment the number of Five Rifles and Four Smooth Guns which was taken off the Country People & I promise that the above mentioned Arms shall remain in my possession till the Governor's Pleasure is known to Dispose of them as he shall see fit either to the Respective Owners or otherways
Given under my Hand at Fort Loudoun 10th November 1765
Signed WM M DOWELL
Obligation Jona Smith &c 1765
Know all men by these Presents that We Jonathan Smith Wm Marshall Thom Orbison and John Welsh all of Peters Township in Cumberland County are holden and firmly bound to Wm M Dowell of sd Township and County in the just and full sum of Two Hundred Pounds Pensylvania Currency to be paid to said Wm M Dowell his Heirs or bis Assigns for the payment we bind Ourselves our Heirs Execut rs and Adm rs firmly by these Presents sealed with our Seal and Dated this 18th Day of Nov 1765 The Condition of this Obligation is such that if the above bound Jonathan Smith Wm Marshall Thom's Orbison and John Welsh shall keep the said Wm M Dowell indemnified from any Assault Arrest Attachment or Suit at Law either for themselves or any other for them or any other for them present or Person or Persona whatsoever on the account of Five Rifles and Four Smooth Bored Guns deposited with said Wm M Dowell by Lieut Charles Grant Commanding at Fort Loudoun untill the Governor's pleasure be known concerning the said Guns that then this Obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue
THOS ORBISON
WM MARSHALL
JOHN WELSH
JONATHAN SMITH
Witness Archibald Scott and Wm Duffield
Extract of a Letter from Lieut Charles Grant to Colonel John Reid 1765
Commanding His Majesty's Forces in the District of Fort Pitt Dated Fort Bedford Novem r 22d 1765
On the 16th Instant a man came in from the Country and told me that there was Three Different Party's waiting about the Fort to take Me and Mr. Glashan Prisoners as they heard we were to March soon j at 7 o clock at Night the Fort was Sur rounded by a number of the Rioters who kept firing and hooting the whole night next day they got more men and encampt round the Fort so that nobody could come in or go out of the Fort j they began next night and kept firing till Day light when they sent me word that they wanted their Arms to he delivered to the Magistrates I told them that I did apply to the Justices but that they refused to take the Arms at 10 o clock they appeared to the number of about 100 and fir d upon all Corners of the Fort so that the Gentry's could not stand upright upon the Bastions they kept firing at the Fort to one o clock when Mr. M Dowell came in and said if I would let him have the Arms that he would give me a Receipt and that those Arms would remain in his House till such time as the Governor would give Orders about them and that the owners would be satisfied whatever the Governor thought proper to do with them As the General wrote to me to give up the Arms when the Governor would desire it I condescended so much as to take Mr. McDowell's Receipt that the Arms would not be delivered up to the Owners till the Governor would desire it as the Garrison was much fatigued for want of Sleep for two nights and two days before owing to the Rioters firing on the Fort I thought it best to give the Arms to Mr. M Dowell as I had no particular orders for carrying them with me I was not sure when I would have a Reinforcement but two hours after I settled with Mr. McDowell Mr. Herring come with 30 men but I thought it would not be worth the while to take the Arms again as they were as safe with Mr M Dowell as if I had taken them to Fort Pitt I enclosed to you a copy of an Obligation Mr M Dowell has from some of their Head men shows that they have Authority to set those men to do anything James Smith headed those Rioters that fired at the Fort and headed the three Party's that were waiting to take me and to take Mr. Glashan Prisoner.
Extract of a Letter from Capt William Grant to Colonel John Reid 1765
Commanding His Majesty's Forces in the District of Fort Pitt Dated Fort Bedford 25th Nov 1765
Lieut Grant with his Garrison is at last gone to Fort Pitt I sent Ensign Herring with thirty men to take him off from Loudoun and I find it was very necessary He was Besieged for two Nights and two Days the Rioters fired some hundreds of Shot at the Stockades and in return one of his Sentries fired only one Single Shot this Sentry was personally fired at three different times which at last provoked him to fire a shot many Balls went through Patton's House and many Lodged in the Stockades of the Fort Lieut Grant had but little Ammunition which made him Cautious to fire till the Lawless Scoundrels would come close u to the Fort the Villains Encamped at Night round the Fort lighted Fires Mr Grant counted Twenty and he believes the number of the rioters might Exceed Two Hundred In this affair Justice Smith proves himself to be a most Atrocious Scoundrels which you will see in a Letter from him to Mr Grant which Lieut Grant has enclosed to you with a Circumstantial Account from Mr. Grant of everything that happened since the rioters last broke out to which I refer you.
pp 214-248
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Gen Gage to Gov Penn 1765
New York March 30th 1765
Sir,
I have had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 22d Inst with Copys of Messages which had passed between you and the Assembly of Pennsylvania by which I perceive it is the resolution of the Assembly to Evacuate Fort Augusta as soon as you are Satisfied of Peace being firmly Established with the Indians multiplicity of Forts and Posts already occupied by the King's Forces will not admit of an increase and I must Endeavor as soon as Possible to reduce the number of Posts the King's Troops now actually Garrison For this reason I must decline accepting your offer of taking Possession of Fort Augusta as soon as the Provincial Forces shall be Disbanded Some of the Traders whose goods were destroyed at Sidelong have been here and represented that they were carrying the Goods to Fort Pitt to supply Mr. Croghan with such Quantitys as he should have occasion for in the Service he is employed in But by a Letter from Mr. Croghan of the 2d Inst from Fort Pitt he informs me some of his goods were got up there and the rest daily Expected And I see by a Letter from Sir William Johnson that Croghan had purchased the Goods he intended to carry with him of Smallman & Field at Philadelphia I am of opinion when you have Examined into this Affair that it will be found the Traders had hopes of getting first to Market by Stealing up their Goods before the Trade was legally permitted.
I am with great Regard
Sir Your inost Obedient Humble Servant
THOS GAGE
Hon ble Gov r Penn Philadelphia
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Sir Wm Johnson to Gov Penn 1765
Johnson Hall April 12th 1765
Sir,
I have just received your favour of the 21st ult containing ye particulars of ye Destruction of the Indian goods sent from Philadelphia for Fort Pitt upon which head Mr Wharton of that City has been with me and has informed me that the quantity destroyed amounted to about ₤3000 (₤300,000 or $1.25 Mil in today’s currency, http://gaspee.info/history/1000_pounds.htm) in Value that He presuming on the necessity there would be for opening a Trade at the Illinois so soon as it was possessed had sent a Cargo with design to remain at Fort Pitt until such Trade could be opened and earnestly desired my sentiments thereon as he proposed sending more with your permission I answered him that such a Trade would doubtless be expected and must be opened with the Indians so soon as we possessed that Country but not before and this is all I know about the matter not having heard farther concerning it than what you were pleased to inform me of I can hardly think Mr. Croghan would have been anyways interested therein and I have particularly questioned Mr. Wharton about it who positively assures me that he was not was much above taking any such step I have likewise read a Letter from Mr. Croghan since the affair happened wherein he not so much as mentioned it to me but I have since wrote him the subject and flatter myself he will be able to make it appear groundless assertion The Presents on behalf of the Crown which were sent on Credit of Gen l Gage's Warrant were chiefly arrived at Fort Pitt and this Credit amounted to a small sum compared w h that mentioned to have been lost by the Destruction of the Goods which yet I cannot by any means consider other than as private property sent by Persons in Trade to avail themselves of the advantages resulting from the first Commerce at that place and I cannot greatly disapprove of the steps they took for that purpose your License and approbation The Extraordinary behavior of the back Inhabitants be their first motives what they will may yet produce dangerous to the Province their Inveteracy has as yet been extended to but those helpless People under ye Governments protection in which they have judiciously consulted their own safety at the same that they created me no small trouble in preventing them and their Family's from being destroyed Such was the rage of the Indian Confederacy against them for that act of Malice the same spirit had it been exerted against our professed Enemy’s might if prosecuted with proper resolution have done us some service but directed as it was against the helpless it served but to increase the number of our Foes and to shew their contempt of Government All I fear is that these Rash People may do something still more outrageous if opportunity offers wherein tho’ themselves may be the principal sufferers the whole Province may feel it I therefore heartily wish you may be enabled to bring the offenders to justice and shall be extremely glad to hear from you any farther Circumstances relative to the cause of your Journey as I s all not fail transmitting to you any particulars which I may yet hear upon yt subject The Delaware Deputys are still here waiting the arrival of the Delawares of Susquahaoa who retired to Chenapio on the Approach of my Partys ag st their villages last year from which place they have been daily expected with Prisoners for some time past and therefore I hope shortly to be enabled to settle matters with them as well as with those from Ohio &c
I am with great Esteem Sir
Your most obedient & Most Humble Servant
WM JOHNSON
The Hou ble Lieut Gov Penn
Gen Gage to Gov Penn 1765
New York 23d April 1765
Sir,
As affairs are now quiet in your Government I have thought proper to order the Six Companies of the 1st Battalion Royal American Regiment now Quartered at Lancaster to move this way of which I take this opportunity of informing you and hope that you will be pleased to cause them during their march through the Province of Pennsylvania to be provided as usual with Carriages Billets &c or any other assistance they may stand in need of from the Civil Power to Expedite them on their Route
I am with great Regard Sir
Your most obedient Humble Servant
THOS GAGE
Hon’ble Gov’r Penn
Extract of a Letter from Winchester Virginia 1765
Dated 30th April 1765
The frontier Inhabitants of this Colony and Maryland are re moving fast over the Allegheny Mountains in order to Settle and live there The two Hunters who killed the two Indians near Pitts burgh some time ago are so audacious as to boast of the Fact and shew the Scalps publickly what may not such proceedings produce One of these Hunters lives in Maryland the other named Walker lives in Augusta County in this Government
Extract of a Letter from Pensborough
Carlisle 1765
A number of Men from this Settlement went up to Shamokin Fort Augusta to kill the Indians there which caused them all to Fly from that Place
Extract of a Letter from Fort Loudoun 1765
The last news we have had here and which is very Certain is the Killing of Nine Shawanese Indians in Augusta County in Virginia who were passing that way to the Cherokee Nation to war against them and had obtained a Pass from one Col Lewis in that County Yet notwithstanding a number of the Country People met them a few miles from Col Lewis's and Killed nine of them there being but ten in Company.
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Lt C Graydon to Gov Penn 1765
Fort Augusta the 1st May 1765
Sir,
Inclosed are the several Returns of this Garrison for the last Month I received your Honor's Letter by favour of Captain Callender of the 30th January containing Instructions with regard to the Indians frequenting this place which I have punctually obey d They are continually coming and going in Expectation of being provided here with every Necessary they want A few Days ago there appear da Number of White People over the River opposite the Fort three of whom came over here and reported that they were from Cumberland County and set off from thence to the number of fifty intending to look at the Land up Susquehanna and at the Great Island where some of them purposes to go and settle Some of the Party return d before they got this Length others went on another Road towards the Great Island and the rest went a few miles up the West Branch and return d home this way We cannot conjecture what these People's intentions were But they seemed very inquisitive about Indians which made us suspect they had a Design against those who were about us In case your Honor should desire to know the Names of the men who were here I have here inserted them viz John Woods James McMein and James Dickey all of Cumberl ‘d Co’ty A Muncey Man informs me that a Number of Indian Families are immediately going to build Cabins & settle on the Great Island I have nothing more to add but am with greatest Respect
Your Honor's
Most Obedient Humble Servant
C GRAYDON
The Hon’ble John Penn Esquire
Gen Gage to Gov Penn 1765
New York May 2d 1765
Sir,
I am to acknowledge the honor of your Letter of the 22d of April together with a Petition of sundry Inhabitants of the County's of York and Cumberland in the Province of Pennsylvania I have laid this Petition before Brigadier Gen l Bouquet that the same might be taken into due Consideration and I have the honor to transmit you the Report made to me upon the several Heads contained therein It appears from the Report that the Petitioners have no positive Right to the Claims they make and that many of their allegations are without Foundation Some poor People may have suffered and deserve to be redressed and if any method could be fallen upon to alleviate those who are really entitled to redress without having a thousand unjust demands imposed upon the Crown I should be very glad to concur with you in doing them all the service in my Power How to do this 1 am really at a loss to say at present but I shall talk with Captain Barnesley upon it who paid the Horse Masters If the People had set forth to Captain Barnesley and Mr Byers during their sitting upon the Accounts at Carlisle only such cases in which they were really aggrieved tho their Instructions might have prevented their doing immediate Justice their Claims would have been ascertained and reported that some satisfaction might be made them afterwards But their Demands were so very unreasonable and so numerous that the Commissioners were obliged to reject them I have the honor to be with great Regard
Sir Your most obedient humble Servant
THOS GAGE
Hon ble L Gov Penn
Copies of Passes given by William and James Smith 1765
Cumberland Co ss
By William Smith Esq one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace of sad County Permit the Bearer Thos M Cammis to pass to Fort Bedford with nine Kegs of Rum Eight Kegs of Wine One Keg of Spirits One Keg of Molassas Three Kegs of brown Sugar Four Kegs packed with Loaf Sugar and Coffee and Chocolate in all Twenty sir Kegs and one bag of Shoes provided always that this Permit shall not Extend to Carry any Warlike Stores or any Article not herein mentioned
Given under my Hand & Seal 15th May 1765
Signed WM SMITH
-
As the Sidling Hill Volunteers have already Inspected these goods and as they are all private property it is Expected that none of these brave fellows will molest them upon the Road as there is no Indian Supplies amongst them
Given under my Hand May 15th 1765
Signed JAS SMITH
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Cumberland ss
Permit the Bearers Alex M Kiney and Laehlan M Kinnon to pass unmolested to and from Anteiatem they behaving themselves Soberly and inoffensively as becomes loyal Subjects they being Soldiers Carrying a Letter to Daniel M Cay and as they say is going to purchase two Cows
Given under my Hand this 20th of May 1765
Signed WM SMITH
Deposition of Lt Charles Grant 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared before me one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for Said County Lieut Charles Grant Who upon his Solemn Oath upon the holy Evangelist of Almighty God Declares that on the 9th of March last James Smith late Lieut in the Pennsylvania Service did in a Riotous manner at the Head of a Body of Armed Men appear before this Fort upon my Seeing Such a Multitude under Arms I sent a man with a Message to their Commander to come & Speak with me He the said James Smith came & acknowledged that he was the Man that Headed Said party I asked him what he meant by appearing with Such a Mob before the King's Fort He said that he came to demand the prisoners which I had at that time in Custody & that he Understood they were to be Committed to Carlisle Goal I asked him what he would do Suppose they were Sent to Carlisle & Escorted by the King's Troops He made answer that his party should first Fire over the Soldiers & if they would not give up the prisoners upon that they were Determined to fight the Troops & die to a Man Sooner than let them prisoners go to Goal 10th of May last a Body of 200 Men as near as I could Guess appeared before this Garrison the above mentioned James Smith being one of their Ring leaders as did likewise arrive at this Fort the Justices Smith Rejonald & Allison Justice Smith & Reyonald desired that I would let them inspect the Goods & that would Satisfy the Rioters I told them that the Goods were by the General's orders under my Care & that I had orders from the General at the same time to send for a Magistrate & take an Inventory of all the Goods Bat could not proceed upon any Such Business at a time when there was Such a Body of Armed Rioters about the Garrison but would be obliged to call upon Some of them next week for that purpose To which Justice Smith made answer that he was not Subject to the General's Orders therefore if he did not get liberty to take an Inventory of them at that time he would not Come again to do it I then Shewed the Justice the orders which I had from Brigadier General Bouquet for permitting Goods to pass as likewise the permit Joseph Spear had from the Commanding officer at Fort Pitt for the Carrying of Goods for the Support of the Troops on the Communication to which Justice Smith answered that the Commanding officer's pass was no pass and that no Military Officer's pass would do without a Magistrate's pass Justice Smith said likewise that this was not a King's Fort nor was this the Ring's Road & said that fire Hundred men would not Escort up these Goods without a Magistrate's pass 28th May I was Riding out & about a mile from this post as I was Coming home in Company with two other Men was Waylay d by five Men Arm d Namely James Smith Samuel Owens John Piery & two others whose names I don t know all under the Command of the aforesaid James Smith Some called out to Catch me others to Shoot me On which I Rushed through them & on passing one of them attempted to Catch my Horse by the Bridle Notwithstanding I passed them all and when they saw that I was out of their hands one of them fired a Gun whether at me or my Horse I cannot say at which my horse Started into the Thickett which occasioned my falling the Rioters then came up to me made me as they said the King's prisoner upon which one of them said take the Durk of the Rascall I asked them for what They said they would let me know that before I would go home I asked them where they were taking me to They said they would take me before Justice Reyonald I ask d if it would not do as well to go before Justice Smith being the most Convenient They Said that their orders was to Bring me before Justice Reyonald They Brought me into the Woods that night Seven Miles from my post & there Kept me all night without any Manner of Shelter they told me that unless I would give up the Arms that I had in the Fort that they would Carry me away into the Mountains & keep me there & that in the meantime the Country would Rise & take the Fort by force of Arms & by that means they would have all the goods in the Fort as well as their Own Anns I told them that it was not in my power to give up their Arms without orders from my Commanding officer & told them they would be dealt with as Rebels if they would do what they threatened Their Commander James Smith said that they were as Ready for a Rebellion as we were to oppose it & they acknowledge that their proceedings were Contrary to law & after holding a Council Determined to go off to Carolina & take me along They set out & brought me about eight Miles farther I having no Doubt but they would bring me to Carolina I ask d them what they would have me do in the Matter as I told them before how much it was out of my power to Deliver up their Arms They ask d me if I would give Security to Deliver up their Arms or pay ₤40 To which I consented Rather than go to Carolina on which they agreed to Bring me to an Inn at Justice Smith's Where I gave a Bond for ₤40 it I did not deliver up their Arms in five Weeks As they were taking me away they Declared their Determination in firing upon the Troops in Case any of them Should be sent in Quest of Mr. The aforesaid James Smith was the Ringleader of the party that took Serj MaGlasken belonging to the Garrison under my Command & used him very ill Some days after I was Released from the Rioters I was at the House of Justice Smith Where I met those five Men that took me Carried me away as above Mentioned & I told Justice Smith that those were the Men that took me away & in what Manner they used me But he took no Notice of it
Deposition of John Shelby 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared before me one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for said County John Shelby who upon his Solemn Oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God Declares that some Time in the Beginning of May last he went to a Tavern near Justice Smith's where there were about Twenty Men under Arms then But was Informed that a number had left the aforementioned Tavern that Morning in Order to stop some pack Horses that were then above Fort Loudoun at pasture That the Men mentioned to be at the Tavern & this Deponent went to one Widow Barr's where they met the party coming back the most of whom were Blacked & this Deponent heard them say they had killed some Horses & Whipped the Driven soon after a party of Highlanders came up upon which some firing ensued upon both sides one of the Country people being Wounded through the Thigh the Action being Ended the Country People all returned to Cunningham's Tavern & this Deponent went to Fort Loudoun & on his Return Home saw the same party at said Tavern That this Deponent stopped at Justice Smith's who went with him to the Tavern & having some Conference Together about These Disturbances Mr Smith said it was a pity some Man would not undertake to Settle those Highlanders for they would ruin the Country upon which this Deponent Answered he thought there was enough had undertaken it already that then this Deponent leaving Justice Smith with those people at said Tavern That some Time after this Deponent had occasion to go to Justice Smith's House & Calling at the aforementioned Tavern he saw a number of Men Collected under Arms & Justice Smith in Company likewise Thomas Orbison & William Duffield &c & further saith not
Sworn & Subscribed Before
Jas Maxwell
Deposition of James Wilkins 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared before me one of his Majesty's Justices for said County personally appeared James Wilkins who upon his Oath Saith That on or about the Last Day of May last he being at the House of Justice Smith where he received some Horse Loads of Goods from John Gibson to be carried to Fort Pitt at which place he saw a number of armed Men some of Whom Did Declare that they were at the taking of Lieu Grant Commanding Officer at Fort Lowdon And this Deponent further Saith that being that Evening at the House of James Cunningham an Inn Contiguous to Justice Smith’s house where Justice Smith & James Smith who seemed to have headed the Above Mentioned Armed Party & others were in Company by themselves this Deponent did hear Justice Smith say that as John Gibson did Condescend to have his Goods Inspected by the Country People if any of them should Destroy or Offer to Molest said Gibson's Goods he would use his Endeavors to find Out & Prosecute the Transgressors in that Fact & said that if he would take in hand to find them out he would find them sooner than any Other Person who had hitherto undertaken to find Out the like and further saith not
Signed JAS WILKINS
Sworn & Subscribed Before
Jas Maxwell
Warrant to Arrest Leonard McGlasken 1765
Cumberland County ss
To The Constable of Peters Township Complaint upon Oath being made to me Wm Smith being one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for said County by James Brown that he was Wounded by being Shot thro the Thigh by Leonard McGlasken Serjeant You are Hereby Commanded in his Majesty's name to apprehend him the Said McGlasken & him the said McGlasken being so taken or Delivered you are to Bring Before me or the Next Justice for Said County in order to answer to Said Complaint & bo farther prosecuted Against According to Law
WM SMITH
A True Coppy of a Warrant
A List of Loading Belonging to Mr John Gibson June 1 1765
Viz
3 Caggs of Wine
20 Loads of Dry Goods
1 Cagg of Sugar
1 Load of Trunks
34 Caggt of Rum and Spirrits
23 Weeding hoes
We they Subscribers being chosen by Jn Gibson with the consent and Approbation of WillTM Smith John Ranwells and John Allison Esquires to Inspect a Quantity of Liquors Dry Goods &c Which Goods &c the said Gibson is about to carry to Fort Pitt In pursuance whereof we have Examined all the Loads Included in the Above Invoice and have found no Warlike Stores or any Article that in our opinion can be any Disadvantage or Enable the Indians to point their Arms against the Frontier Inhabitants
Given under our hands
this first Day of June 1765
Signed ROBT SMITH FRANCIS PATTERSON
Cumberland County ss
To all his Majesty's Leidge Subjects to whom these L Presents shall come With Concurrence and Approbation of Jn Rannells & Jn Allison Esq you are hereby in his Majesty's Name to permit ye above Named Gibson with Seven Drivers and forty one Horses and Loading to Pass unmolested as far as Fort Bedford or to ye Allagenea Mountain on his way to Fort Pitt they behaving themselves Soberly and Inofencively as becomes Loyal Subjects
Given under my hand & Seal being one of His Majesty's Justices of ye Peace for said County this 1st June 1765
Signed WM SMITH
Statement of Ralph Nailer 1765
When I Presented the Depositions of my Drivers that Had Been whip d by the Black Boys the time my Horses was Killed to Mr. Wm Allen he then told me to Wait on him at Five o clock that Afternoon and he would Give me an Answer I went and he told me he had look d them Over and Desired to Know what I wanted him to do in it 1 told him as they had Acted Contrary as I thought to the Laws of our Government and him the only Person to Apply to For Redress Hop d he would Issue out King's Writes and Have them Prosecuted According to Law at which he told me as there was no person Killed he had no Business with it and Further Said if that Officer Sarjeant or Soldiers had Killed any of that Party he Would have sent for them & had them Tryed for their Lives at which I told him I thought a party of men Assembld on the King's Road in Disguise as they were and Robing People of their Private Propertys I Imagined had the Soldiers Killed them the English Laws would have Protected them tho’ the Black’d Men Gave the first fire he then said there was no such Law only in England to put a Stop from Killing the King's Deer he then said we had no Business to Carry the Goods at which I told him they Were Chiefly for the use of the Garrison and he said five or six Loads was Quite Sufficient for that Garrison and not forty or Fifty tho’ Great Part of them Loads was the Officers Stores Belonging to Fort Pitt and the Remainder was Entirely Rum Spirits & Wine Except Seven Loads of Loaf Sugar Shirts Shoes and other Dry Goods he then Said we had Done Wrong in Carrying the Goods and he had done Wrong in Shooting our horses & Whipping the Drivers and that we were a Lawless People.
RALPH NAILER
NB I Delivered the Horse Drivers Depositions to Mr. Allen the Second Day of June 1765
Sir Wm. Johnson to Gov. Penn 1765
Johnson Hall
June 7th 1765
Sir,
I am just favoured with your Letter of the 23d ulto., with the enclosures and I am much obliged to you for the particulars you communicated on the late affair at Sideling Hill &o Mr. Croghan has cleared up the affair to the General and has wrote me a Letter of the 12th ulto., wherein he informs me that he had settled all matters with the Ind & was to proceed for the Illinois in a Day or two accompanied by the Chiefs of several Nations He appears very much concerned at the charges insinuated against him which he removes confessing he encouraged the Traders to be in readiness at Fort Pitt in case he got possession & this was done he says by the approbation of Col Bouquet When I came to Philadelphia Messrs. Baynton & Wharton told me that they had a quantity of goods which they had prepared to take to the Illinois in Sixty three when Col Bouquet was to go to take possession of that Country & told me he had promised them at that time the exclusive liberty of going with him which I know he had done and that those goods lay still on their hands and desired me to give them my opinion whether I thought a Trade would be admitted there or whether they could take them to Fort Pitt & there lodge them in the King's Store till the Trade would be opened with authority I answered them that undoubtedly when we had possession in the Illinois a Trade would be allowed & that with respect to sending y goods to Fort Pitt they ought to apply to Col Bouquet for his liberty and I certainly encouraged them in this as I knew there was but little goods here to supply the Indians when things might be settled with them & the Trade opened which I thought then and do now would be for the good of the Service and I never understood that those goods was intended to be sold to Indians till the Trade was opened by authority They desired me to mention their design to Col Bouquet which I did and y necessity which I thought there would be of goods here when the Trade should be opened and he told me as I had a Pass to take up the Presents if I thought it necessary I might pass those goods under it in consequence of which as I had left part of the Presents in the care of Cap Calendar I gave a pass to bring out part of theirs in which step I find I have been wrong Concluding with a Desire to throw up his Employment immediately after executing the Service on which he has been sent I was of opinion it would be no easy task to bring the persons concerned in the late riotous act to Justice as I believe there are too many of the back Inhabitants of ye same way of thinking with them & who judged them doing a meritorious act I am very sensible of the consequences which may attend the Indians settling at or about y Big Isleand & in that neighbourhood and I shall do all in my power to prevent it alt ho I know they are all very fond of that Country & must quit it with y greatest reluctance but I shall lay before them & the Six Nations the necessity there is for their being at a greater distance as well on their own acct as ours and I hope the Boundary I have lately proposed agreeable to the Lords of Trades Plan will be found very advantageous to the Province of Pennsylvania if approved at Home & that I am impowered as I expect to settle that affair I have lately had the pleasure of hearing from Mr. Penn on that and other Subjects The Inhabitants whose Relations have been murdered or plundered have doubtless great reason to dislike the Enemy Indians their Hatred was notwithstanding alike ags all Indians who came in their way a manifest proof of their Ignorance but those who were our Enemies being now admitted into a Peace by the Government they ought to reflect on the dangerous consequences attending an ill timed resentment which would prove of no advantage to themselves & might be of bad consequence to their Country From all their late conduct & from Cap Graydon's letter there is but too much reason to apprehend they will not be at quiet till some act is committed that may have very bad effects they may possibly obstruct the Trade unless it is guarded by Escorts Their design to settle up the Susquahana & at ye Great Island is a manifest proof that they are either ignorant of what their conduct may produce or very indifferent about it because all the Confederacy of Indians must take the alarm at such a Settlement & consider our desire to prevent them from re establishing themselves there as solely caleulated to introduce our People into that Country a Circumstance which must greatly add to their discontent & raise their jealousy to a very high Pitch but I hope you will be able to prevent these imprudent People from putting their design into execution as there is more than Sufficient of Vacant Land for them till affairs are on a better footing I enclose you a Copy of my late Treaty with the Delawares by which you will perceive that I have taken upon me to promise them a Trade during their good behaviour & this was an article they earnestly desired Some of the Western Nations the Chip pawaes are now with me and have renewed their Engagements and I have received advice that the Shawanese have at length delivered up y Prisoners & sent off Deputys to treat about Peace & that I may daily expect them The Plan for Indian Affairs not being yet settled prevents me from taking many steps in my Department which when I am impowered to do will I hope be of great Service to the Frontiers as I shall then be enabled to pursue one uniform system with a variety of Persons in the different Quarters for the preventing Disputes & Differences and transacting all affairs with the Indians I shall let you know as soon as I can what success I may have in dissuading the Indians from resettling the Great Island &c and
I am with great Esteem
Sir Your most obedient & most humble Servant
WM JOHNSON
Directed The Hon ble Lieu Gov Penn
James Smith to Comm’r Escorting Party 1765
Smith's Run the 12th of June 1765
Sir,
Upon being well informed that you were coming up to Escort King's Goods only I have used my influence with the people to prevent their opposing your March or so much as Examining What you Carried But now a Report prevails that under covert of said Cloathing & on Dependence of the Guard hath presumed to March With Indian Goods & Warlike Stores upon which Report the Country people is again Enraged If the above Report is false Be so Kind as to let me Know & I will endeavour to satisfy the Young Men
I am, Sir,
a sincere lover of my King
and Country, & obed’t
H’ble Servant
JAS SMITH
Directed To the Commnnder of the Party at or near Fort Loudon Escorting Necessarys for tho King's Garrisons To be forwarded by Lieu Grant
Wm Smith to Lt Grant 1765
From My Own House 22d June 1765
Sr,
I am Sorry upon your account that you persist in Refusing to Mirer Mr. McGIashen to the Civil Authority I wish you would be kind enough to take a Ride & I will show you the Act of Parliament in that & such like cases Made & provided which I suppose will convince you of the Risque you are Running As to the Guns I have no Concern with them only as a friend I would use the freedom to advise you to give them to the Owners for however Unlawfully they were taken I am sure they are much more unlawfully Detained & from the Rage of the People I am afraid if you persist in Detaining them the Consequences will be bad
I am,
Sir,
Your Humble Servant,
WM Smith
Directed To Lien Grant Commanding at Loudon
Smith's Run June 19th 1765
Sir,
The Arms that are detained in Loudon you may keep them, keep them, keep them!
I am, &c,
JAMES SMITH
James Smith to Lt Grant 1765
Coneygochug June 17th 1765
Honoured Sir,
I was occasionally at Loudon a few days ago & had the opportunity of Speaking with Mr. Grant who told me all the Satisfaction Colonel Rc’d desired for taking him prisoner was that I should acknowledge my fault to Mr. Grant Which I refused to do Except Mr. Grant would also Confess he had used the Country ill This he Refused to do & said he had done nothing but his Duty If Colonel Reid will only say it is the Duty of an Officer at Fort Loudon Repeatedly to send out Mr. Grant & a party to Red private Quarrels in the Country I will Confess my fault to the above mentioned Gent I acknowledge my fault to Col Reid Begging pardon for the same I don t accuse Mr. Grant with all the Hostilitys Committed by McGlashen for I have reason to Believe McGlashen acted Contrary to his orders & concealed many 4f the actions from his Commanding officer
I am,
Honoured Sir Your obedient Humble Servant
JAS SMITH
Directed To Lieu Charles Grant Commander at Loudon
Deposition of John Smith 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared me One of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for said County John Smith Who upon his solemn Oath Declares and Saith That some Time in May last he this Deponent had Occasion to go to Justice Smith's & at One Cunningham's Tavern near said Smith's he was in Company with about Thirty Men under Arms with an intent as he apprehended to stop goods from going Backward after some Time Robert Allison was Coming past said Tavern with some Mares & Colts which they thought to be Pack Horses & said it would be well to shoot them however Allison passed on & allighted at Justice Smith's House where was Thomas Orbison William Duffield & Samuel Davis & this Deponent saith that those Men the Tavern said they would Whip the above Mentioned Allison before he left that place unless he would give satisfaction to them for attempting to Carry out the Goods which were Destroyed near Sidelong Hill & this Deponent saith he saw the same People passing & Repassing between the said Tavern & Justice Smith's House
Sworn 22d July 1765 Before JOHN ALLISON
Lt Charles Grant to Gen Gage 1765
Fort Loudoun August 24th 1765
Sir,
I thought it my Duty to Send your Excellency a Coppy of the Depositions of Serjeant McGlashan and severals of the Men who were with him opposing the Outrages Committed by the Country people near Fort Loudon & also the Depositions of Several other people of Credit Concerning the Assembling of the Rioters at different times at Justice Smiths and his behaviour on those Occasions This I thought the more Necessary as your Excellency may perhaps think proper to send Coppys of them to Governor Penn As I have great Reason to think attempts have been & will be made to impose upon him by false Representations, from a Sett of Men, who have acted against all Laws Except those of their own making & have Combined against the King's Troops & I fear the Governor may be too apt to listen to their false Assertions as a Number of the Magistrates of the County have lately drawn up a Remonstrance or Something of that Kind to the Governor in a private manner in which I have great Reason to believe they have endeavour d to thro’ the Blame off themselves and their people & fix it Upon me & the Garrison I Command This appears to be the Case as Justice Smith who was Sent for by the Governor on Receipt of a Coppy of Col Reid's letter from your Excellency has Returned & in Consequence of the above Remonstrance I’m informed Stands in a fair light with tho’ Governor Tho’ I Humbly presume there is the Strongest presumption of Justice Smiths Countenancing and assisting the Rioters I have sent your Excellency a Coppy of one of Justice Smiths passes together with the Certificate of James Smith his Brotherinlaw an Insolent Troublesome fellow who has Constantly appeared at the Head of those Rioters I Rec’d a letter some time ago from the Governor desiring me to send him my Deposition in order that he might the Better be enabled to bring the offenders to punishment I accordingly sent it him but as I have Reason to Apprehend that a great part of the Remonstrance of the Magistrates was in opposition to my Deposition & Set forth that the Reasons of the Differences between the Soldiers & the Country people was the high Bribes given by the Owners of the Goods to the Soldiers to assist them in their undertaking I should be glad if your Excellency would order me a Coppy of said Remonstrance When at the Request of Captain Callendar I ordered the Serjeant and party first out to assist in Recovering such of the Goods aa were not Burn d Mr Callender told the Serjeant he woud give them something for their Trouble & for every person he Coud take who coud be proved to be Concern’d at Burning the Goods he would give a Reward of 10 But I told him that was unnecessary as the Serj must obey the Orders I had given him I have also sent your Excellency a Coppy of Justice Smith Warrant for Apprehending Serj McGlashan for Wounding one Brown a Rioter who was perfectly Recovered some time before he Issued the Warrant I should be glad to be inform’d by your Excellency whether I have acted Right or not in not Delivering him up to the Constable on the Warrant from Smith who in my opinion has forfeited every Right to act as a Majistrate & who would have got the poor Serjt Try’d by Jury of his own adherents with Mr. Armstrong of Carlisle at their head who favours the Rioters & would have had no Mercy on him I should also be glad of your Excellency's Orders with Regard to the Arms taken from the Rioters & now in the Garrison Some of those fellows had the Insolence to Send me Word by the Constable that Colonel Rec’d at the head of his Regim Should not take them from F Loudoun The above Mention’d Brown who was wounded was seen a Day or two before Blackd at the head of a party who Search d some Wagons & the Morning before he was wounded he fired of his Gun as a Signal to the party to attack the pack Horses & Drivers tho’ he is Represented as an Innocent Country Man about his Lawful Business I am inform’d by good authority that Mr. Allen Chief Justice of this Province has said that if I should come to Philad he shoud be obligd to arrest me by a provential Warrant on account of my proceedings at this Post As I have inclosed Your Excellency a particular account of my Transactions Since the Commencement of these Disturbances I submit to you whether I have acted Right or Wrong
I am,
Sir, with due Respect
Your Excellencys most obedient & very H ble Servant
CHARLES GRANT Lieu 42 Reg Commanding at Fort Loudoun
His Excellency Gen Gage Directed On his Majesties Service To His Excellency The Honble General Gage Commander in Chief of his Majestys Forces in N America New York
Deposition of Leonard McGlashan &c 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared before me One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said County the Following Persons Viz Leonard McGlashan Serjeant, John McGill, George Sutherland, Daniel Steward, John Corbitt, Daniel McRay, John McDonald, junior John McDonald, Senior Angus McKay, John McDonald, younger David McKenzie, Hugh Monro, and Archd McMillon Soldiers in y 42d Reg whomc being all Sworn on the Holy Evangelisht of Almighty God Disposeth that Being Orderd by Lieut Charles Grant on the 6th of May last with the above mention d Number of Men to the House of Rouland Harris to Relieve the Pack Horse Men that were taken by a party of Men Disguised with their faces Blacken d but upon my arrival at sd Harrises House this party of Rioters was gone not knowing which way they went I Press d the afore mentioned Harris to Pilot me the way when upon our arrival at the Widow Barrs House they fired one Shot supposed to be upon us we not thinking that we were so Near them and Looking from whence the Shott was fired we saw the party PCall d out to Stop bnt they not Stopping one Shott was fired upon them by some of my party in Return of which severall Shotts were fired supposed on us on our Retreat to the Widow Barrs I then gave Orders to fire and my party being on Clear Ground and they in the Woods oblidged us to take possession of the Widow Barrs House where we were fired upon Warmly for some time the Black Boys being between Seventy and Eighty in Number as Near as I can Gues Before we went into the House we made one Man Prisoner he being under Arms and appeared as if he had been Black d in the face but had attempted to Rub it off but did not do it Effectually which Prisoner we kept about one hour and then Released him being per swaded by a Country Man that happened to Come there as he rayd by Chance and told us that if I did not Release the afore mentioned prisoner Neither me nor any of my party would Ever Gitt back to the Fort upon which I Released him and Proceeded back to Fort Loudoun
Sworn & Subscrib this 20th day of August 1765
Before Me
John Allison, his mark X, John McGill mark his X, George Sutherland mark his X, Daniel Stewart mark his X, John Corbitt mark his X, Daniel McCoy mark his X, John McDonald mark his X, John, Archibald McMullon mark his X, Leonard McGlashan Serj his X, John McDonald Sen mark his X, Angus McCoy mark his X, John McDonald Younger mark his X, David McKinzie mark his X, Hugh Monroe mark X
Deposition of Leonard McGlashan &c 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally appeared before me One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said County the Following Persons Vi Leonard McGlashan Serjeant Duncan Cameron Corp John McGill George Sutherland John McDonald Senior John McDonald younger Angus McKay Donald McKay John Corbitt John Dure John Cruckshanks and Lachlin McKinon Soldiers of the 42 Reg Whome being all Sworn on the Holy Evangelisht of Almighty God Disposeth that on the 6th of March 1765 that the abo mention d Serj McGlashan with the aforesaid party was Orderd by Lieut Charles Grant Commanding Fort Loudoun about 9 o Clock that Night to proceed on to Sidling Hill where the Goods were Destroy d to protect and Bring back to this Fort any part of said Goods that Could be found and any party that I should meet that seemed Likely to have been at the Distroying of said Goods I was to make prisoners of them or as many of them as I Could and bring them to this Fort I proceeded with my party and at the Entrance of the Gap which leads over the Mountain to the Great Coave about 12 o Clock at Night I mett with a party of Men to the Number of Seven who Kun off upon their Perceiving us I Called to them severall times to Stop but to no purpose Some of them bad new Blanketts about them it being moonlight we could Plainly Discern them which Blanketts we Lookd upon to be part of the Goods that we were sent to protect they Running away in the Confused Manner that they did together with the Blanketts which they had about them Gave me Great Reason to believe that these People had a hand in Destroying the Goods Consequently I gave order to persue them which was Done and about half way up the Mountain made one prisoner which I myself took with two Rifles in his hand & one other prisoner taken by some off the party These two prisoners I Committed to the Care of the Corporall and four Men in the Rear of my Party while I Proceeded in the front and at the Top of the Mountain the Corporal in the Rear perceiving some people Creeping thro the Woods Called to the front upon which Turned Back and Gave Chace to them thro the Woods upon which there were two Shots fired by some of the party Contrary to my Orders 1 then proceeded to the Great Coave to the House of Will McOonnel it Being the place where the Rioters Rendesvouzed at the Day they Burnt the Goods as we was Inform d I thought in all probability I might find some of them there consequently on my arrival at the said House I made strict Enquiry and Examined Every Body in the House but finding no Reason to suspect any of them it being a publick Inn I Left the Corporal and four Men there to take Care of the prisoners while I with the Rest of my party Proceeded to the Ground where the Goods were destroyd at which place we arrived about Six o Clock in the Morning of the seventh Instant and found a few Horse Loads of Rum untouched but the dry Goods in Ashes the former I brought Back with me to the Cove from whence I sett out with my party and two prisoners made the Night before to Fort Loudoun when at or near the place that the prisoner taken by Serj McGlashan was found a Scalping Knife supposed to be part of the Goods and on this side of the Mountain much about the same place where I mett the people in Blanketts the Night before I was met by four Country Men under Arms one of whom asked me where I had been I told them in the Cove he asked me what Business brought me there I answered on the King's Service Ask d me if I did not make some prisoners I told them I had made two ask d me what they were made prisoners for I answered for Destroying the King's Goods asked me where I was Determined to bring them to I answered to Fort Loudoun he say d they should not be Brought to Loudoun untill he would know for what to which I made answerd that as he seemed Determined to Rescue them I would make him prisoner as well as them which I did accordingly Corporal Cameron and two off the party being Left in the Hear had not opportunity of hearing the said Conversation between the Serjeant and the Country People and upon my making him a prisoner there then appeared a party off about Fifty Men as Near as we could Gues all Armed with their thumbs upon the locks of their Guns and Presented at me and my party one of which swore Blodily that he would Shoot me through the Heart in Consequence of which 1 Cloas d with him and Disarmed him and made him fall in with the Rest of the Prisoners and at the same time Gave Orders to the party under my Command to Disarm and make prisoners of as many of them as they Could which wis Done making four prisoners out of this party that appeared to Rescue the two prisoners the Night before they Rendesvoused again and mett me on the Road as I march Towards the Fort I asked them where they were going they answerd that they were going a hunting I told them that if they were hunting us that they should find us better Game and Commanded them to Clear the Road for the Kings Troops which they would not do untill I was Obliged to Order my party to fix their Bayonetts the sight of which procured me & my party a Clear passage to Fort Loudoun
Sworn & Subscribd this 20th day of August 1765
Before me
John Allison Leonald McGlashan Serj Dun n Cameron Corp his Donald X McCoy mark his John X Coebitt mark his John X Dure mark his John X Crookshanks mark his Lauglan X McKennon mark his John X McGill mark his George X Sutherland mark bis John X McDonald Senr mark his John X McDonald you mark his Angus X McCoy
Deposition Henry Prather 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally Appear d before me one of his Majisties Justices for said County Henry Prather who upon his Solemn Oath on tho holy Evangelists of Almighty God Deposeth that on or about the 18th of July last there was a Number of Majestrates Conven d at Fort Loudoun Among which were Messrs Campbell & Perry Esquires who were the Acting Majestrates Examining into different Matters about Some Disturbances that had happen d lately likewise Concerning an Advertisement Propagated as Justice Smith Imagined By Thomas Romberg or Alexander Williamson who were Both Sworn to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth & Answer all Such Questions as Should be Ask d Concerning Said Advertisement & further this Deponent Sayeth there were Severall Other Depositions taken the Same day Respecting Justice Smith's Conduct when they were only Sworn to tell the truth and nothing but the truth without Mentioning the whole truth and Answer to Such Questions as Should be Ask d Some time after on the Same day this Deponent being in Company with a Certain Samuel Finley who lives with Justice Smith ask d Said Finley upon his Conscience if he had Declar’d the truth the whole truth & nothing but the truth Concerning Justice Smith Finley Answer d it was hard touching his Conscience with it for that he had Sworn nothing but the truth and had Answer d Such Questions as was Ask d of him likewise Added ho would as Soon Swear for Justice Maxwell as for Justice Smith if he was Call d upon & this Deponent further Declares that it was his opinion that Said Finley did look upon his Deposition Binding upon him to Declare the whole truth and further Sayeth there was a Deposition taken from one Price in favour of Justice Smith which be this Deponent Objected Against for Several Reasons Viz for his appearing Att the Head of a Riotous party at Sundry times & for Embazelling the goods of Joseph Spears which was Carried from or near Fort Loudoun to Maryland & left in his Care likewise for Carrying off a Cagg of Rum Att the Same time when a pretence of Burning Said goods of M Spears was Committing these Objections this Deponent laid in against Said Price Att the time when his Deposition was taking & offer d to prove the Same By Evidence Notwithstanding this Deposition of Price's was transmitted to his Honour the Governour as he this Deponent has been Inform d this Deponent further Adds that being in Company with Justice Perry and Discoursing About the Said price M Perry Said it was fitter Such a fellow Should be Committed than to have his Oath & Added he thought a Pitty it was not in his power to Secure all Such &c And further this Deponent Sayeth that the Majestrates had Agreed to Sit in the fort & when they Appear d Ready to Begin Business they the Majestrates ask d for Evidences which was Answer d the Commanding Officer would let none of those people into the Garrison as they had appear d Severall times Before the Garrison under Arms upon which Justice Campbell Answer d let us go Some where Else for the Commanding Officer was quite Right not to let any of these people In or if he did it was more than he Could Answer for and Alight Perhaps Affect his Commission & further this Deponent Saycth not
H Y PRATHER
Sworn and Subscribed this 12th September 1765
Before me
JNO ALLISON
Justices Maxwell and Allison if called upon will confirm what is contain d in the above Deposition
Deposition Thomas Romberg 1765
Cumberland County ss
Personally Appear d before me One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for Said County Thomas Romberg Who Upon his Solemn Oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God Deposeth that On or About the 29th May Last Next Day After Lieut Charles Grant was taken Prisoner I went the Same Road to Enquire what became of him Going to M Nath McDowell I found an Advertisement and in Cumming home I let M Grant know of it he Ask d me for a Copy of which I Give him one the Original was so much Blotted with the Durt after I took a Copy off it I did not take Much Notice of it which is Destroy d After Some time there was a Court of Inquiry held at this post by a number of Justices of the Peace they Oall d for me & Justice Campbell & Piero Ask d me in what Manner I Came by that Advertisement & if I Could Give my Oath how and in what manner I Came by it I told them that I Could Which was in the Manner following of which I made Oath Viz That I found the said Advertisement upon the Publick Road Leading to M Nath McDowell's that I was not the Author of the Same nor I did not know who the Author was Some time after Justice Smith Came from Philadelphia he was here & the Sheriff the Sheriff Call d me into M Christy's house & told me that he Wanted to Speak to me Comming in he Shew d me a Writ he had for me when I saw it I went up to Justice Smith & told him that the Sheriff had a Writ for Me that I would be glad if I Could Settle it here without taking me down to Jail to Carlisle upon Which he Made Answer that it Could be Settled if I would Give the Author off that Advertisement Upon Which I made Answer that I did not know more About it than what I have Sworn to Well then says he the Law will Condemn You that You are the Author of the Same After some Conference he told roe that he pit d me as I was Ignorant of the Law Well says I all that they or You can do to me would bo to hang me or Send me out the Country No Says he but it will Cost You Some Money At the Same time Messrs Christy & McCormick had some talk together on which Justice Smith Said Gentlemen None of your Whispering upon this Affair
THOMS ROMBERG
Sworn & Subscribed this 12th Day of Sept 1765 at Fort Louden Before
JAS MAXWELL
To his Excellency General Gage Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's Forces in North America
The Petition of Thomas Romberg Most Humble Sheweth That y ur Excellency's Petitioner the Day after Lieut Grant was taken Prisoner being anxious about his Fate went Out into the Country to try if he Could gett any Intelligence of him and on the High Road found an Advertisement as is mention d in the Affidavit Anexed and being Called upon Swore to all he knew of the Matter but some time thereafter when he Least Expected it he was taken by a Warrant at the Instance of Justice Smith who Seems Determined to persecute him and to fine him of a Sum of Money which he is Unable to Pay As he has the Honour to Act as Commissary to the Troops at this post and as he Can Expect no Justice before any Court of Law in this Country but Rather Oppression he therefore Humbly implores your Excellency's Protection against his unjust Persecutor
And your Petitioner will Ever Pray &c
THOS ROMBERG
Commissary at Fort Loudoun
Extract Letter from Lieut Grant to Hon Thomas Gage 1765
Extract of a Letter from Lieut Grant Commanding at Fort Loudoun to His Excellency Major General Hon Thomas Gage Commander in Chief &ca &ca &ca Dated Fort Loudoun 16th Sept 1765
It gives me the greatest Concern to find that Complaints should have been made against me to your Excellency by Governor Penn I must therefore Suppose that the Authors of these Complaints are too deeply Concerned in the late Riots Committed near this Post to give You a fair and Candid Representation of my Con duct But as I am Conscious to myself of having Acted according to the best of my Capacity and Without any other motive than to give Assistance to the Distressed I will therefore Enumerate every Action that I think my Enemies who are numerous can take hold of and Humbly Submit them to Your Excellency at the properest Judge I thought it an Indispensable duty in Me as part of the Convoy of Goods which were Destroyed were Represented to be the property of the Crown to give all the Assistance in my Power for their Protection and to Assist every Subject also in the Defence of his property seeing the whole Country Almost in Arms and Certain Magistrates whose Duty it was to Quell such lawless proceedings Appearing openly witlyin Armed Banditti whom they seemed to Countenance in their lawless Me sures My Enemies I am told have Accused me of receiving high Bribes for saving these Goods which I afterwards protected in Consequence of Your Excellency's Order but I Assure Your Excellency that I never did and none but mean Spirited Wretches Void of Honor or Honesty themselves would have dared to Accuse any Officer holding His Majesty's Commission of so mean an Action I Confess that M Cal lender did contrary to my Inclination give some money openly to the Soldiers as they had risqued their Lives and on different Occasions Suffered a good deal of Fatigue having also Carried the whole Goods belonging to that Company into the Fort on their Backs to prevent their being Pillaged Another Objection made against me as I am told and the most Weighty is that I got from a Constable Possession of a Warrant Issued by Justice Smith for apprehending a Serjeant under my Command on a Supposition that he had Wounded one of the Rioters who it can be proved was very Active in that Affair and who was long recovered of his Wound before the said Warrant was Issued And it was a Considerable time thereafter that the Constable happening to come to the Fort I thought of Asking him for the Warrant which he gave me And I Confess I have kept it with a design to make Use of it against Justice Smith and thereby to prove that tho’ he would give me no Re dress for the gross Insult offered to me by those lawless Fellows who Carried me from my Post Prisoner into the Wood and whom I met at his own House and Complained of to him without Re dress Yet he had the Assurance afterwards to Issue Said Warrant with a Malicious design as I had reason to believe to persecute the poor Serjeant who had received hard usage for doing his Duty And who I thought it Incumbent on me to Protect from the merciless Rioters who must have been his Judges I Confess also that as Justice Smith had Appeared to me to trample upon the Laws by being so deeply Concerned with those Robbers which I have Still reason to think will be proved I therefore did not Consider him any longer as a Magistrate and used the freedom to keep the Warrant which he was Extremely desirous of recovering from me Suspecting the use I intended to make of it Another Complaint made against me is that when the Magistrates Assembled at Loudoun by Order of Governor Penn to Enquire into the Conduct of some of their Brethren they came into the Fort and Intended there to proceed to Business But as I Observed that Several of the Rioters were present who had at different times Openly Appeared before the Fort in Arms and who were Called there to appear as Evidences for Justice Smith I thought it my Duty to Object to their coming in which gave great Umbrage to Justice Smith who has always behaved with great Insolence to me but was Approved of by Justice Campbell of Shippensburg who thought I Acted with prudence and Advised the other Justices to go to a house on the Outside of the Fort and carry on their Examination which they did Accordingly Perhaps also I have been blamed for detaining Some Arms which were taken from the Robbers in the very Act Notwithstanding that the Grand Jury of that County who were Composed of People of the Same Stamp had found them Innocent But Surely I cannot be blamed for detaining the Arms of two of the Fellows who took me Prisoner and who compelled Me to give them Security for 40 for the Delivery of their Arms which are yet in my Possession and which I will keep Notwithstanding of the threatening Messages Still Sent Me till I have your Excellency's Orders for delivering them up or the Governor's Receipt for them
Wm Smith to _____1765
Fort Smith, 14th November 1765
Sir,
Yours of Yesterday is now before me as to my attendance I would cheerfully give it were it necessary but there has been such Invidious Representations given of my conduct when I did attend at Loudoun that common prudence forbids my attendance if any of the Province Stores be committed to my care I will give my Receipt and keep them safe until called for as to the Country Peoples arms as I had no hand in either illegally taking or detaining of them I will keep myself clear Sir I wish you a clearer understanding a tenderer conscience Repentance for Perjury and happiness in time and through eternity
I am, Sir,
Your abused humble servant
Signed WM SMITH
Obligation of James Smith and Samuel Owens 1765
Know all men by these Presents that we hereby holden and firmly bound unto Lieut Charles Grant in the just and full sum of five hundred pounds Pennsylvania Currency to be paid to the said Charles Gr mt his heirs or assigns for the payment whereof we bind ourselves our heirs executors and administrators firmly by these Presents sealed with our seals this 18th day of November 1765 The Condition of this Obligation is such that we shall disperse immediately from this Post without any injury or assault to any Person or Persons and we do hereby further promise that we shall not interrupt or insult any Person or Persons hereafter in going up or coming down if any such thing should be done by any of us or by any of our Advices then this Obligation shall remain in full force and virtue otherwise void.
Signed JAMES SMITH and SAMTJEL OWENS
Witness at Present John McDowell
Signed Wm McDowell and Nath McDowell
Receipt for Guns Captured 1765
Received of Lieutenant Charles Grant of the 42 Regiment the number of Five Rifles and Four Smooth Guns which was taken off the Country People & I promise that the above mentioned Arms shall remain in my possession till the Governor's Pleasure is known to Dispose of them as he shall see fit either to the Respective Owners or otherways
Given under my Hand at Fort Loudoun 10th November 1765
Signed WM M DOWELL
Obligation Jona Smith &c 1765
Know all men by these Presents that We Jonathan Smith Wm Marshall Thom Orbison and John Welsh all of Peters Township in Cumberland County are holden and firmly bound to Wm M Dowell of sd Township and County in the just and full sum of Two Hundred Pounds Pensylvania Currency to be paid to said Wm M Dowell his Heirs or bis Assigns for the payment we bind Ourselves our Heirs Execut rs and Adm rs firmly by these Presents sealed with our Seal and Dated this 18th Day of Nov 1765 The Condition of this Obligation is such that if the above bound Jonathan Smith Wm Marshall Thom's Orbison and John Welsh shall keep the said Wm M Dowell indemnified from any Assault Arrest Attachment or Suit at Law either for themselves or any other for them or any other for them present or Person or Persona whatsoever on the account of Five Rifles and Four Smooth Bored Guns deposited with said Wm M Dowell by Lieut Charles Grant Commanding at Fort Loudoun untill the Governor's pleasure be known concerning the said Guns that then this Obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue
THOS ORBISON
WM MARSHALL
JOHN WELSH
JONATHAN SMITH
Witness Archibald Scott and Wm Duffield
Extract of a Letter from Lieut Charles Grant to Colonel John Reid 1765
Commanding His Majesty's Forces in the District of Fort Pitt Dated Fort Bedford Novem r 22d 1765
On the 16th Instant a man came in from the Country and told me that there was Three Different Party's waiting about the Fort to take Me and Mr. Glashan Prisoners as they heard we were to March soon j at 7 o clock at Night the Fort was Sur rounded by a number of the Rioters who kept firing and hooting the whole night next day they got more men and encampt round the Fort so that nobody could come in or go out of the Fort j they began next night and kept firing till Day light when they sent me word that they wanted their Arms to he delivered to the Magistrates I told them that I did apply to the Justices but that they refused to take the Arms at 10 o clock they appeared to the number of about 100 and fir d upon all Corners of the Fort so that the Gentry's could not stand upright upon the Bastions they kept firing at the Fort to one o clock when Mr. M Dowell came in and said if I would let him have the Arms that he would give me a Receipt and that those Arms would remain in his House till such time as the Governor would give Orders about them and that the owners would be satisfied whatever the Governor thought proper to do with them As the General wrote to me to give up the Arms when the Governor would desire it I condescended so much as to take Mr. McDowell's Receipt that the Arms would not be delivered up to the Owners till the Governor would desire it as the Garrison was much fatigued for want of Sleep for two nights and two days before owing to the Rioters firing on the Fort I thought it best to give the Arms to Mr. M Dowell as I had no particular orders for carrying them with me I was not sure when I would have a Reinforcement but two hours after I settled with Mr. McDowell Mr. Herring come with 30 men but I thought it would not be worth the while to take the Arms again as they were as safe with Mr M Dowell as if I had taken them to Fort Pitt I enclosed to you a copy of an Obligation Mr M Dowell has from some of their Head men shows that they have Authority to set those men to do anything James Smith headed those Rioters that fired at the Fort and headed the three Party's that were waiting to take me and to take Mr. Glashan Prisoner.
Extract of a Letter from Capt William Grant to Colonel John Reid 1765
Commanding His Majesty's Forces in the District of Fort Pitt Dated Fort Bedford 25th Nov 1765
Lieut Grant with his Garrison is at last gone to Fort Pitt I sent Ensign Herring with thirty men to take him off from Loudoun and I find it was very necessary He was Besieged for two Nights and two Days the Rioters fired some hundreds of Shot at the Stockades and in return one of his Sentries fired only one Single Shot this Sentry was personally fired at three different times which at last provoked him to fire a shot many Balls went through Patton's House and many Lodged in the Stockades of the Fort Lieut Grant had but little Ammunition which made him Cautious to fire till the Lawless Scoundrels would come close u to the Fort the Villains Encamped at Night round the Fort lighted Fires Mr Grant counted Twenty and he believes the number of the rioters might Exceed Two Hundred In this affair Justice Smith proves himself to be a most Atrocious Scoundrels which you will see in a Letter from him to Mr Grant which Lieut Grant has enclosed to you with a Circumstantial Account from Mr. Grant of everything that happened since the rioters last broke out to which I refer you.
Links to Period Documents Relating to the Rebellion
First mention of James Smith's Black Boys in response to the Enoch Brown Massacre, Maryland Gazette, August 16, 1764
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The first published account of the Black Boys Rebellion; the destruction of the 81-horse pack train at Sidling Hill. Maryland Gazette, March 21, 1765.
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Rebellion makes the world news in England, the London Chronicle, May 21, 1765.
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File Size: | 6297 kb |
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Lt. Charles Grant's account of expulsion from Fort Loudoun by Smith's Black Boys, November 22, 1765.
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File Size: | 721 kb |
File Type: | jpg |