1. In his letter to Secretary Peters, sent at the same time, he discloses his fears, when he says: This is probably my last letter to you."

 

 In the council, Tadeuskund was very exacting in his demands in behalf of his people, the Delawares, and he was supported by the Quakers, who accorded him every possible advantage during the proceedings, both from an honest desire to preserve peace, and to procure justice for the Indians, and also from a willingness to thwart as far as possible, the designs of the Proprietary government. Had it not been for the assistance and support, which they gave him, he would hot have secured the advantages which he did, from the treaties of 1756 and 1758. "They (the Quakers) suggested to Tadeuskund the propriety of having a secretary of his own (Charles. Thompson, Esq.,) to take minutes of what was said and done in council. This was to prevent that convenient forgetfulness, which often seized the. government secretaries whenever the Proprietary interest required it. This measure was strenuously objected to, both by the Governor and by George Croghan, but was firmly insisted on by Tadeuskund.1

 

The duration of the proceedings at this conference was nine days, and on each day, the processions of the Governor to, and from, the council-house at Vernon's ferry, were but repetitions of the parade and stare of the opening day, Tadeuskund was well "treated" by his pale-faced brethren, and at the close of the deliberations, a peace had been concluded between the English and the Delawares and Shawanese. But still there remained the question of the Minisink lands, and, although the Proprietary government, through Governor Denny, expressed a willingness to give full satisfaction in the promises, yet, as many of those concerned in the original ownership of those lands were absent, it was deemed best to postpone that matter for deliberation at another council, to be called in the following year.

 

The main result-peace-which the whites had desired having been gained, they were entirely willing to agree to the postponement of the Minisink question.

 

Tadeuskund was the prime instigator of the postponement, and the assembling of another council, for the big Indian heart swelled within him at the thought of the friendly deference accorded to him by the Quakers, of the prospective liberation of his people from the galling domination of the Iroquois (already half accomplished by the present council), and still more particularly by the certainty of unlimited rations of rum which these deliberative assemblages were sure to bring him. Doubtless, he would have thought it advisable to meet the Governor and Council and Commissioners of Pennsylvania and his pale-faced Quaker brethren, four times a year, if such frequent convocations had been possible. Tadeuskund was a man of "unbounded stomach" for strong drink. Major William Parsons, in a report made to Lieutenant-Governor Morris, in 1756, said of him "He can drink three quarts or a gallon, of rum a day, without being drunk." And so much who he puffed up by the importance he had been permitted to assume, and by the spirituous indulgences; which had been allowed him, that, on the occasion of a subsequent call for a council at Easton, he said, in a dictated letter to Governor Hamilton: "As Sir William Johnson hath appointed a time he meet at Easton, I desire you and all such of the gentlemen as are concerned in the Land Office to meet us at that, place. I beg also to appoint some small beer and cyder at some houses where we shall stop on the road to refresh ourselves." He, doubtless, would have preferred rum, but thinking it doubtless whether the mightier stimulant would be entrusted to, except under his white brother's eye, he stipulated only for cider and beer.

 

Before the time for assembling the council appointed for the next July, (1757), the Indians again became troublesome and menacing, and the inhabitants of Easton and Bethlehem were as panic-stricken as they had been in the previous year. The sessions of the courts, and the meetings of the commissioners were interfered with, witnesses and jurors could not be induced nor forced to attend, and all thoughts have again turned to the one question of defence. This state of uncertainty continued during all the spring months.

 

Major Parsons removed to his new house in April, and probably felt much mere secure after he was fairly domiciled within its thick stone walls. It was an imposing mansion, for those days; though it now looks modest enough2 among the statelier building which surround it; as it stands, antiquated, gray, and weather-beaten, but with walls and foundations so massive that it seems likely yet to outlive many of its more youthful neighbors.

 

It appears that he had much trouble to procure the viands necessary for his housewarming, for he wrote to Peters (April 3d, 1757) "I have no mutton since last treaty, neither have I any person in my house that knows how to dress it. I have sent for some to Philadelphia." Such an occasion as the inauguration of his new mansion could not be allowed to pass without roasted mutton, even in the shadow of the deadly peril which surround them.

 

Neither were the Governor and the members, of the Council at all disposed to accept "camp fare" when they came to attend the conference, Secretary Peters wrote from Philadelphia to Easton, July 7th: "The Governor intends to live in Mr. Parsons house whilst at Easton, which is now empty, Mr. Parsons being indisposed, and on a journey for the recovery of his health. By what, means can butchers meat, and butter, bread, fowls, and other sorts of provisions he laid in every day, without giving the Governor's family unnecessary trouble? Perhaps Nicholas Scull will undertake to do all, or a part of which is necessary, and to supply provisions and beer."

 

Innkeeper Vernon responded to Mr. Peters: "As to fresh provisions on every day shall be duly provided, such as fowl, beef, mutton, veal, bread and butter, by me Nicholas Scull undertakes to provide servants that shall be necessary for the Governor and what gentlemen shall come with him whilst at Mr. Parsons'. No cook can be got at Easton, but, good water plenty." It is not known whether or, out this was intended as an implication that the Governor might possibly drink water, if beer could not be obtained. Certainly His Excellency appears to have thought it impossible-even under the pressure of very grave necessary to travel, and lodge and live as simply as Governors of the State of Pennsylvania frequently do at the present day.

 

The citizen had looked with fear to the gathering of the savages for the council, but no violence occurred, Tadeuskund was present, gay enough in his cooked hat and gold-laced coat, and was, as usual, the chief spokesman of the Indians, but he become so intoxicated -notwithstanding his great capacity for liquor-drinking-that his Quaker friend, could only with the greatest difficult keep him on the track of his own interests. Nothing. whatever was settled between Indians and whites at this sitting; the question being referred by mutual consent to the King of England and his council, for decision.

 

At the close of the conference, Tadeuskund requested "that the lock be taken off from the rum cask, and the liquor allowed to run." This was acceded to, and the great "War Trumpet of the Delawares"3 for once in his life, at least, laid prostrate, completely conquered by, little John Barleycorn.

 

Still another treaty meeting was held at Easton, in September, 1758. The attendance was far more numerous than at any of the preceding conferences. No less than five hundred and eight Indians, were present, including the great chiefs of the Six Nations; while on the part of the whites there were Sir William Johnson, Colonel Croghan the Governors of New Jersey and of Pennsylvania, with their suites, and, as a matter of course, a large number of eminent civilians and Quakers. Lodgings were more than over in demand, and subterfuges find browbeating were resorted to by the proprietary party to procure the best quarters, and to exclude the Quakers- and vice versa. Nathaniel Vernon, mine host of the Ferry tavern -where the convocation was to be held -was in the Quaker interest, and used some high- handed measures to secure lodgings for members of that party. Anthony Esser, the butcher, occupied a house belonging to Vernon, who informed his tenant that unless he (Esser) vacated the house, so that the Quakers might have their quarters there, he (Vernon) would withdraw his patronage for meats, which would have been very severe on Esser, who was a poor man, and had moreover laid in if considerable stock of cattle, and sheep, to be killed for this very occasion, for which Vernon, being landlord of the ferry house inn had been depended on as a principal customer. So the alternative of moving the family into the open air seemed almost as bad as the loss of his landlords trade, he was obliged to comply with the cruel demand, or deal with Vernon as best, he might.

 

1 This house the oldest building in Easton, is still standing in good preservation on the north east corner of Fourth and Perry streets being now owned (and the lower part occupied by a meat market) by Jacob Duchrodt who was Lieutenant-Colonel of the one Hundred and Fifty-third Pennsylvania Regiment in the war of the Rebellion. Its walls are more than two feet thick and so solid that, if not disturbed they will doubtless stand for another century. After the death of Mr. Parsons in 1757, the house passed to the ownership of GEORGE TAYLOR, the Signer of the Declaration. It was by him occupied as a residence at two different periods, and it was within its walls that he died, February 25th, 1781. It has been said that General Washington was a guest in this house when he passed through Easton on his way to the army at Newburgh New York. This may or may not be true but the probabilities are against the statement. If Mr. Taylor had then been living, there is no doubt that the Commander-in-Chief would have lodged at his house, but he had been dead a year when Washington came and therefore there is no reason to suppose that the General stopped there rather the reverse for he would naturally have shrunk from the sad associations of the house which had been made desolate by the recent death to his compatriot and friend.

 

 

3. This was an appellation offer, applied to Tadeuskund, and of which he was very proud.

 

 As for the Governors and great lose, thee were as fastidious as ever. The all-pervading Richard Peters wrote to Easton (this time, to Charles Swaine, Esq.,) to procure quarters, far His Excellency and the members of the Council, to which Swaine replied, under date of fourth of September, 1758:

 

"Sir: I received the favor of yours, and am glad that my services are acceptable, should its fond of every opportunity to oblige Mr. Peters, or any gentlemen of the Council. I have spoken to Vernon on that, head, and he said in general it will be in the manner as it was before (former years of treaties), by which I understand provision is to be daily fetched from his houses, and the gentlemen's servants to dress it. As to the lodgings it will be necessary to bring bedsteads, bed, &c.; I shall take care to have the several lodging rooms well cleaned. The wine here is very indifferent and our tea equipages generally earthen cups and spoons. I shall not in the best manner I can, as circumstances offer, and tender every place as convenient as possible, and keep those places bespoke, though strong application is made for lodgings here, and houses by letters to various persons." Our tea equipages are earthen cups and pewter spoons. Poor man! that fact was a costly one to him, for his good wife, despising the homely earthenware and pewter, resolved that the gentlefolks front the commercial capital should find something better than these, upon her table, and to that end she borrowed from Mrs, Stedman, of Philadelphia, a tea service of silver, in which was, an elegant tankard, the beauty of which so won her heart, that she absolutely refused to restore it to the owner, and return the use of earthenware, after her visitors had departed; and she was only to induce to do so by strong persuasion of a suit at law, which brought mortification, and disgust, to Prothonotary Swaine. Who will say that the inordinate love of hollow show and display had no existence in the ancient time?

 

Upon this occasion, the Governor of Pennsylvania established his lodgings at Millers tavern, at the southwest corner of Hamilton-now Fourth-and Northampton streets, where Messrs, Becker & Raders Store now is.

 

The council convened on the eighth of October; its sitting being as usual at Vernons hostelry and ferry house. Tadeuskund was, of course, the Indian orator of the occasion, but this time he was more careful in his use of liquor, and-as is said by Day-"he bore himself with dignity and firmness, refusing to succumb to the Six Nations, and was, proof against the wiles of Colonel Croghan and the Governor."

 

The chiefs of the Iroquois were angry end much disgusted at the importance assumed by the great Delaware, and used all their influence against him or but to no purpose; he procured the restoration of all the lands beyond the mountain, and then fully confirmed the white title to the remainder; and thus, after a session of eighteen days, amicable relations were restored, and red-skin and paleface smoked the pipe of peace, in a general treaty concluded October 26th, 1758. Then Tadeuskund preferred his modest request that the, fire-water might flow, the Governor nodded his assent to Vernon, and soon Iroquois and Delawares had forgotten their enmity, and were all on a level, in the wild orgies of indiscriminate intoxication.

 

Other councils were held at Easton in 1761 and 1762 in reference to the Indian ands at Wyoming. As usual, Tadeuskund was the master spirit in the Indian interest, but the deliberations passed quietly, and nothing, occurred worthy of special note.

 

end of XLIII - Part I