The Onondaga Pledge Support to Colonies

CANASSATEGO, Papers Relating to an Act of the Assembly of the Province of New York (1742)

As the colonies developed, settlers in search of land began moving farther west away from the eastern seaboard. Frequently, this movement put them in contact with Native Americans upon whose lands they encroached. Treaties had attempted to settle land disputes, but conflict often persisted. In this source, Canassatego (c. 1684–1750), an Onondaga leader and representative of the Iroquois Confederacy, speaks to Brother Onas (the governor of Pennsylvania, George Thomas). The two leaders met in July 1744 to negotiate the Treaty of Lancaster between Virginia, Maryland, and the Iroquois. References to the French threat remind us of the persisting tensions between the two European rivals.

Brother Onas,

Yesterday you expressed your Satisfaction in having been instrumental to our meeting with our Brethren of Virginia and Maryland, we, in return, assure you, that we have great Pleasure in this Meeting, and thank you for the Part you have had in bringing us together, in order to create a good Understanding, and to clear the Road; and, in Token of our Gratitude, we present you with this String of Wampum.

Which was received with the usual Ceremony.

Brother Onas,

You was pleased Yesterday to inform us, “That War had been declared between the great King of England and the French King; that two great Battles had been fought, one by Land, and the other at Sea; with many other Particulars.” We are glad to hear the Arms of the King of England were successful, and take part with you in your Joy on this Occasion. You then came nearer Home, and told us, “You had left your House, and were come thus far on Behalf of the whole People of Pensylvania to see us; to renew your Treaties, to brighten the Covenant-Chain, and to confirm your Friendship with us.” We approve this Proposition, we thank you for it. We own, with Pleasure, that the Covenant-Chain between us and Pensylvania is of old Standing, and has never contracted any Rust; we wish it may always continue as bright as it has done hitherto; and, in Token of the Sincerity of our Wishes, we present you with this Belt of Wampum.

Which was received with the Yo-hah.

Brother Onas,

You was pleased Yesterday to remind us of our mutual Obligation to assist each other in case of a War with the French, and to repeat the Substance of what we ought to do by our Treaties with you; and that as a War had been already entered into with the French, you called upon us to assist you, and not to suffer the French to march through our Country to disturb any of your Settlements.

In answer, we assure you we have all these Particulars in our Hearts, they are fresh in our Memory. We shall never forget that you and we have but one Heart, one Head, one Eye, one Ear, and one Hand. We shall have all your Country under our Eye, and take all the Care we can to prevent any Enemy from coming into it; and, in proof of our Care, we must inform you, that before we came here, we told Onandio, our Father, as he is called, that neither he, nor any of his People, should come through our Country, to hurt our Brethren the English, or any of the Settlements belonging to them; there was Room enough at Sea to fight, there he might do what he pleased, but he should not come upon our Land to do any Damage to our Brethren. And you may depend upon our using our utmost Care to see this effectually done; and, in Token of our Sincerity, we present you with this Belt of Wampum.

Which was received with the usual Ceremony.

After some little Time the Interpreter said, Canassatego had forgot something material, and desired to mend his Speech, and to do so as often as he should omit any thing of Moment, and thereupon he added:

The Six Nations have a great Authority and Influence over sundry Tribes of Indians in Alliance with the French, and particularly over the Praying Indians, formerly a Part with ourselves, who stand in the very Gates of the French; and, to shew our further Care, we have engaged these very Indians, and other Indian Allies of the French for you. They will not join the French against you. They have have [sic] agreed with us before we set out. We have put the Spirit of Antipathy against the French in those People. Our Interest is very considerable with them, and many other Nations, and as far as ever it extends, we shall use it for your Service.

The History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada (London: T. Osborne, 1747), 143–145.

READING AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS