George Washington Flowers Memorial Collection DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ESTABLISHED BY THE FAMILY OF COLONEL FLOWERS — = A BRIEF ACCOUNT he F LOSS - 4, OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE, APPOINTED BY THE YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS, HELD IN BALTIMORE, FOR PROMOTING THE IMPROVEMENT AND CIVILIZATION OF THE INDIAN NATIVES, BALTIMORE...PRINTED BY COLE & HEWES, N. CHARLES-STREET,,,1805. greet Rai 4, ‘MINUTES OF THE YEARL HELD IN BALTIMORE, 10th Mo. 1805.piy, S, i A 66.116 EIB. A report from our committee on Indian con« i 4 cerns was produced, which being read and consi= dered, much satisfaction with their proceedings was expressed, inasmuch as et very evidently ap- pears that considerable benefits to our red brethren ‘ | have already resulted, since the care of the Year=_ j ly Meeting towards them. The committee were ; encouraged to continue such exertions in the fae 4 secution. of this important concern as may be mn their power to extend ; they were also left at l= — berty to have printed for the more general Ae i formation of Friends, as many coptes of their re- 4 et port, connected with a narrative of their previous — ne proceedings, as they apprehend may be usefully kK distributed amongst our members. 444834 chupeeel p a & dy A DRIED ACCOUNL Ho aes Cee a OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE, APPOINTED BY THE YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS, HELD IN BALTIMORE, ‘or promoting the Improvement and. Civilization of the Indian Natives. A weighty concern having been opened in he year 1795 in our Yearly Meeting, re~ pecting the difficulties and distresses to wich he Indian natives of this land were subject, - obtained the serious attention of Friends, nd many observations were made, relative 9 the kindness of their ancestors to ours in he early settlement of this country, excit- ag to a deep consideration and enquiry , whe-~ her under the influence of that exalted be- evolence and good will to men, which our oly profession inculcates, there was not omething for us, as a society, to do for them 444834 ee ee tee re be te lt i. od ee ae Re ie ef! a J a nH is vae. ¥ 7 x ae - F’. : - “ A aN , towards promoting their religious instructi knowledge of agriculture, and useful mec nic arts? A solemnity prevailing, the sentiments « many were expressed, evidencing a near sy1r pathy with them ; the meeting therefore unit ed in recommending to our Quarterly an Monthly Meetings, to open subscriptior amongst our members for their relief, an appointed a committee, to pay such attentio to the interesting concern, as they might k enabled to render. The committee, after having fully cons dered the subject of their appointment, cor cluded as the most effectual way of obtair ing correct information of the situation an disposition of the Indians, to appoint a dé putation from amongst themselves, to vis the Shawaneese, Delawares, Wyandots, or suc other nations, north--vest of the river Ohi as they might find practicable. The Frienc who were nominated to this service, havin first obtained the approbation of goverr ment, proceeded in the summer of 1796, ¢ ar as the forks of the Muskingum river, at — yhich place, they had been informed that a onsiderable number of Indians were collect- id; but upon their arrival there, they found ‘l the chiefs, and most of the hunters, had lispersed. And it not appearing practica- ble to convene them in a suitable manner or a conference at that time, they returned vithout accomplishing the object of their vi- it; they however saw divers hunters and thers, who appeared to be well disposed to eceive the instruction and assistance, which "riends proposed to furnish them. The committee being still deficient in the lecessary information, to enable them to proceed with safety in so important an un- lertaking, one of their number offered, in he fall of this year, to undertake a visit to he Indians, for the purpose of obtaining a nore satisfactory knowledge respecting them; nd his proposal being approved, he was en- ouraged to proceed sherein as soon as might e practicable. Accordingly, in the spring f 1797, he, with two others of the com- nittee, who became concerned to unite with him, made them,a visit; in the cours which, having passed by a number of th hunting camps, and several of their town they had large opportunity of discoverir their situation, often exposed to the incl mency of the seasons, with a very prec: rious, and often a very scanty supply — food and cloathing, they suffered all the m series of extreme poverty, in a countr which, from its great fertility, would, wi but little cultivation, abundantly supply the with all the necessaries of life. ' These Friends had an opportunity wit some of the chiefs and hunters of tl Wyandot and Delaware nations, in whic they informed them of the concern-of Frien relative to them, and endeavoured to in press on their minds, the advantages the would derive, from permitting to be matrc duced amongst their people, a knowledge « agriculture, and some of the most useful m« chanic arts. |The Indians appeared to gis close attention to their communication, prc mised to lay the matter before their gran council, and inform us of their conclusio ress i a ee he-t — a os 3 ee eis pr: a ee ai “2 ipon the subject.------No way opened, du- ring the year 1798, to proceed, in carry- ee. ing the concern of the Yearly Meeting into effect, except that the committee furnished a few implements of husbandry, and other assistance, to some Indian families, which were situated upon the branches of the ~ ‘Tuskarawas river. ‘ In the Second Month, 1799, the com- — suittee received a speech, and belt of . ‘Wampum, from Tarhie, the principal chief of the Wyandot nation, delivered at De- ~ troit, in the Ninth Month preceding; of ~ which the following is an extract : r<* Brethren Quakers, «You remember that we once met at a ‘certain place. When we had there met, ‘a great many good things were said, and f «much friendship was professed between us. » * Brothers, You told us at that time, that you not — only took us by the hand; but that you “4 “held a fast by the arm: that you then — ee es ase oe 4. «that it was not a chain o aw ; but the t *< was a chain of precious metal, a chain | ‘silver, that would never get rusty; 2 *‘ that this chain, would bind us m brother affection forever. ‘<< Brethren listen : *< We have often heard that you were ‘900d and a faithful people, ever read ** to do justice, and good to all men, withoul ** distinction of colour ; therefore we love yo “the more sincerely, because of the good *, te A 1804, he informed, that he spent the time a-" greeably with them, and was favored to enjoy. a good portion of health whilst there. He raised about 400 bushels of corn, besides a quantity of turnips, potatoes, cucumbers, ” water melons, pumpkins, beans, parsnips and other garden vegetables, which he di- rected to be divided amongst the Indians on_ their return from their hunting camps; and left with the family of Indians, with whom he resided, upon the farm he had cultivated, 23 hogs and pigs, sevenof which were in good | order to kill, and he expected would weigh | fifteen hundred pounds ; these he engaged the agent to attend to the killing and salting of. They were small when brought to the farm in» the spring, and had no other food than what they gathered in the woods. : With some assistance, which he obtained. from Fort-Wayne, he cleared and enclosed. under a substantial fence, twenty acres of ground, and built a house, thirty-two feet long and seventeen feet wide, a story and a. half high, with floors and partition. _ ’ ; Al He further infor that the Indians who emained with him, were very industrious, and attended to his directions ; the young women wished to work in preparing the ground and in tending the corn; from this he dissuaded them: and as some spin- ing wheels had just arrived at Fort-Wayne, which had been sent on by government, he encouraged them to go there, and learn to pin and knit, of a white woman, who hap- pened to beat that place ; this they did, and oon learned both to spin and knit; and he le eft them knitting yarn of thetr own spinning; when he came away. - Healso informed, that a considerable num- ber of Eel River and Weas Indians were a- bout to settle near the place he cultivated ; and that previous to his departure, he was with several of their principal chiefs, who requested him to tell Friends, that they, and the Indians generally, were much obliged to them for the assistance they had given them, and hoped we would continue our friendship towards them, and that nothing might hap- , to discourage us. F . - a oa All the Indians he was amongst, were very friendly ; as was also the agent and other of- ficers of the government. _ As it appeared that the Indiaiss were: ont desirous of Friends, continuing their care to wards them, and of our sending a person t take the place of Pxaitir Dennas; -afte: weightily considering the subject, it was con: cluded to endeavour to procure a suitabl Friend for that purpose ; but none offerings to engage in the service, and the committe taking into consideration the low state @ their funds, and the advanced season of th year, together with the dissatisfied and un settled situation of the Indians at that time, o account of a sale of land made by some c the tribes to the United States,* thought i might, for the present season, be best t write to the agent, and request ‘him, t procure for us, the most suitable character 1 | his power, who, under his direction, woul _~ plough the land, Puriie Dennis cultivate the last season, and plait it ‘in cofh: «i the performance of this, we hoped he wou * The uneasiness which this cireumstance occasioned — mongst the Indians has since been entirely removed. ae ee pa be assisted by the Indians. We also ob- seryed, that after their corn was planted, we — were willing to believe they would be able to manage it themselves; should. a second ploughing however be necessary, we direct- ed this also to be done. ‘This person was also desired to prepare for them a garden of the most useful vegetables, which they might afterwards easily manage. a The committee have since received his an- swer to this letter, in which he says, “ he will lose no time in complying with their request, and that he will at all times be ready to put the benevolent concern of Friends, towards the Indians, in execu- — tion.” He also says, “ that at this time, a Spirit of industry exists amongst the Indians generally ; and that, as several of the tribes, had requested of government, to have a part of their annuities expended in the employ- ment of men, to split rails, and make fences forthem ; the Delawares had. twenty-three thousand rails put up into fences, the last winter ; and that forty-thousand more would e made into fences for the Miamie and eee BOM ——— | Pa hr me | Eel River Indians, by the first of the Six Month.” He adds, “ that ten families 0: the Miamies have settled adjoining the place cultivated by Puixip Dennis, and that fou men were employed in making rails to fence in forty acres for them ; alle: that three persons more were at work for the Eel Rives Indians, a half a mile below Dennis’ sta- tion: that they had twenty-five acres clear- ed and ready for the plough, and he expect- ed would have fifty or sixty acres fenced ir by the first of the Sixth Mo.” He furthe: adds, ‘* that he expects at least twenty-five families of Indians will remove to reside at that place the present season, and he is con- fident the settlement will increase very a The Indian who worked during the last sea- son with Puitie Dennis, was about build- ing himself a comfortable house, had clear- ed two acres more of ground, and wa: ploughing the field previously cleared by Putte Dennis: the hogs which were left there with him, had increased to Ape hun- _ dred in number. ifn > LE 47 ripcrled The agent further informed, “ that oe il would be one hundred acres of land under, good fence, at the Little Turtle’s Town, | (eighteen miles. north of Dennis’s Station) | by the first of the Sixth Month, where they had also obtained a large number of hogs, and some cows, and he doubts not, but that the Indians will soon see, that it is easier to raise food, than to procure it by hunting,” and “adds, “Friends may see, from the great progress they have made in civilization, since Puinie Dennis was with them, that they only want good and_suitable men to reside amongst them, ntl Heh them how to work.”* * Since thisnarrative was prepared for publication, a letter has been received from the agent at Fort Wayne, dated the fifth of the Tenth month 1805,in which he says, ‘‘ agreeably to the di- rections of the committee, I have employed a man to assist the Indians in cultivating the field, on the Wabash, which wasclear- ed and cultivated by Puitie Dennis, last year; the Indians with this man’s assistance have raised, it is supposed, at least six hundred bushels of good corn, from this one field, ex- ~ clusive of what they have raised from ground of their own clearing. | Many of the oldest of the Eel River and Weas Indians have ‘removed and settled at that place, where they will be followed _ by the younger branches of their tribes in the ensuing spring.” He adds, “ believing as I do, that the society of Friends are desirous of ameliorating the situation of their Red Brethren in this country, I will take the liberty to observe, that the present _ is a very favourable time, to put in execution their benevolent | views, towards the -distressed natives of this land, and that Notwithstanding "ene are Peven oth othe nations, who appear desirous of the assistance and care of Friends ; yet. from the limited state of our funds, we have heretofore been under the necessity of confining our aid, principally, to the Miamie, Eel River and Weas Indians. it It will be: perceived, that during several years of the first labours of the committee, but little progress was made; this may be attributed, ina great measure, to the per- nicious effects of ardent. spirits amongst them. As soon as the introduction of this great evil into their country was re- strained, there was an immediate improve- ment. discoverable, and an almost universal) disposition seemed to pervade them, to a- much good may be done on the Wabash by’ sending one or two suitable men to reside amongst the Indians, and teach them how to raise steck, and cultivate the earth. Witness what Pritir Dennis effected amongst them the last year. Atasta- tion where he had everything to begin, there are now at least four hundred hogs and twenty cows, and the Indians at no vil- lage in this. country, live so'comfortably,asthose at that place. If this spirit of industry is kept alive for afew years, it mul certainly havea powerful influence upon the minds of the In- dians at many of the neigbouring villages. The Indians have lately concluded atreaty with the United States, which has set. tled all their jarring interests.” AT ‘bandon their former habits of Jiving, and turn to the cultivation of their lands :—their progress in civilization has, since then, been much more rapid, than the most sanguine could have expected ; and on comparing the condition of these Indian tribes, at the time ~ the last deputation from our committee vi- sited them, with their present situation, we are of opinion, that there is great cause of encouragement for Friends to persevere in the benevolent work they have undertaken, ‘and strong ground to hope, that our labours will, m the end, be crowned with the de- sired success. a f When we reflect on the gradual, but con- “tinued decrease of these people, from the 'time the Europeans first visited this conti- nent, until the present, and the many whole “tribes, of which not any trace now ‘remains, except their names, there is every reason to _ believe, that should the Indians continue to | pursue their former mode of life, a few | centuries more, many other whole nations of _ them will become entirely extinct. a mind,. to survey the hastening ¢ of that is ow of the human rey. aned when thi 3 ag ORE scalping knife shoe J plough and the hoe; and instead of ra q the forests in seeming affinity, to the ild " beasts of the desart, shall peacefully and ra- " tionally enjoy the productions of the fruitful ; field !—Nor is. this ali, added to the cultiva- _ tion of the earth, the first step in the view q of the committee, towards many other im- ; _ portant temporal advantages, to be derweg ' to this people from civil life, may not ) _ promotion of this concern, which has fais , far evidently prospered, prepare for, and prove _ the means under the DIVINE) BLESSING, q through which, may finally spread and pre- vail amongst these, our fellow men, that - Licut and KNOWLEDGE, Which so rein _ ly distinguish the true CurisTraNn? Signed on behalf of the committe on Indian conce ¥ pointed by the Yearly Meeting of Baltimore. _ ; PHILIP E. THO i : Baltimore, 11th Mo. 1805. Form 335—40M—6-40 Hay.S. 266.196 FRLis 444834 rl 5 CS 0 sO N oO ro) a) oa © aS 6) IM seueigr Aysueniun e4NG Hl lil