COLONIAL RECORDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA: DOCUMENTS RELATING TO INDIAN AFFAIRS 1754-1765
EDITED BY: WILLIAM L. McDOWELL, JR.
PUBLISHED FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES & HISTORY
BY THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA PRESS COLUMBIA, S. C.
COPYRIGHT © 1970 BY SOUTH CAR.OLINA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG: CARD No. 70 - 627805
STANDARD BOOK No. 87249 - 911 - 1
Lower Town(s) Chickamauga (56 References)
PAGE ix – 1760-4-6
The last of the "Indian Books” ends with a letter written on March 6, 1760 from beleaguered Fort Augusta, shortly after the outbreak of the Chero
PAGE x – 1760-4-6
kee War. There is no indication why the clerk closed the record at that point.
PAGE xii - 1750
By 1750, however, nearly half of the Carolina traders were licensed for the Cherokee trade. The path to the nation from Charleston and Augusta was relatively short, and the skins obtained from the Cherokees were among the best to be had. The tribe occupied a strategic position on the Carolina frontier. Any French advance could be easily opposed, blocked or joined from the Cherokees' country. Hence they could easily influence neighboring tribes to follow suit. Moreover, Cherokee policy affected southern and western tribes who were frequent visitors to the nation.
PAGE xii - 1711
As early as 1711, the General Assembly passed an act requiring traders to obtain licenses in Charleston. Virginia protested vigorously to the crown, because until 1740, when a passage to the Overhills was discovered the Virginians had to cross the Carolina back country to reach the Cherokee. nation. The crown ordered the act repealed. But the colony’s antipathy to the traders from the north did not abate. In 1751, a Cherokee delegation from the Overhill towns to Williamsburg obtained promises of trade. But Governor Glen denounced this as a violation of the 1730 treaty and informed the president of the Virginia council, Lewis Burwell, that the Cherokees were well taken care of by his colony and would continue to do so.
PAGE xiii – 1753
Earlier, an inducement to the Cherokees to join Virginia’s forces, Governor a Dinwiddie had also promised to build ·a fort to guard the Overhills. But the Virginians lefft this fort, at Chote, ungarrisoned, and the Cherokees were forced to look to South Carolina for protection. The new fort was to be the second South Carolina post in the Cherokee nation. The first, Fort Prince
George, was built in 1753, at Keowee in the Lower settlements. This was designed to protect the Lower Indians from Creek attacks and prevent them from moving to the Overhills, leaving the northwestern part of the colony's frontier expos
PAGE xiii – 1739
South. Carolina's policy in regard to frontier expansion was designed not to offend the Indians. Glen did not favor intrusion into the Indian hunting grounds beyond the recognized boundaries, and a· South Carolina act of 1739 had forbidden any private purchases of Indian land. But the pressure of settlement on the frontier forced Glen to seek a cession 'from the Cherokees. In
1747, George Pawley obtained a deed, signed by thirty-four head men, transferring the territory between Ninety Six and Long Cane Creek. Even before this treaty was negotiated, settlements · had been established in the Saluda valley, between Saluda Old Town and ·Ninety Six. By 1756, the Cherokees were complaining to their t:r:ader, James Beamer that there were settlers above
Long Cane Creek on Rocky River.
PAGE xiv - 1763
North Carolina settlers did not reach the Cherokee country until after 1763, and the colony had no trade with the tribe. During the war, North Carolina's Indian policy mainly consisted of following Virginia's lead in working to obtain Cherokee support against the French. The northern colony differed even more strongly with South Carolina in her approach to the problem of Catawba lands. While General Glen forbade settlement within thirty miles of the Catawba nation, North Carolina refused to recognize the 1ittle tribe's claims at all, and issued grants in the Catawba nation without even ascertaining whether the land was in North Carolina.
PAGE xv - xvi – 1750-1751
“Cherokee complaints against the traders were of long standing. The Indians were deeply in debt to the. traders and accused them of using false weights and measures. White intrusion into Cherokee hunting grounds made matters worse. During the winter of 1750-51, white men raided a camp on the Savannah River and stole three hundred and thirty deer skins. James Francis, justice of the peace at Saluda, aggravated tensions by refusing to help recover the skins. In March, thirty Cherokees attacked William Clements's store on the Oconee River, killing his servant Jeremiah Sweeney and a Chickasaw from the New Windsor settlement. Resentment against the traders reached the boiling point in April when, incited by visiting Northern Indians, Stecoe townsmen plundered Bernard Hugh's store. Traders in the Lower towns fled for their lives. Attacks on isolated inhabitants in the middle and back country were also reported.”
“He sent letters to three of the Lower towns demanding the surrender, within two months, of the chief offenders and ordered the embargo to be enforced until this demand was met.”
PAGE xxvii – 1757
For the French were still actively trying to disrupt relations between the Cherokees and the English, and the Cherolcees, especially Old Hop in the Overhills and some of the leading head men in the Lower settlements, were still not willing to sever their contacts ·with thein. With the coming of spring in the mountains, the activities of the Savannahs and other French agents increased. Early in June, 1757 seven Savannahs arrived at Great Tellico. Demere, informed of their presence by a packhorseman, called in Old Hop, the Standing Turkey, the Small Pox Conjurer of Settico, father of the Mankiller of Tellico, and Kenateta the Mankiller’s brother.
PAGE xxvii – 1757
Raymond Demere had asked for the surrender of French John before, but Old Hop had refused to give him up on the grounds that he was his personal slave. Now -he summoned Little Carpenter and Old Hop and demanded satisfaction. But both French John and the murderers escaped before a punitive party could reach ,Tellico.
PAGE xxix – 1759-2
“Late in February, 1758, James Beamer, a trader at Eastatoe in the Lower towns warned Lyttelton that if the whites were the murderers, he afraid the Indians would soon do was
mischief unless they were punished.”
Byrd then went to the nation and found so many of the Cherokees either already in Virginia
or out against the French on the Tennessee River that he could find only sixty Lower townsmen to return with him.”
PAGE xxx -
In the meantime, Lachlan McIntosh, the commander of Fort Prince George, informed the governor that the Lower townsmen were serious in their preparations for war against the Virginians. Lyttelton suggested that the Middle and Lower Cherokees call back their warriors and ask the governor of Virginia for satisfaction. In return, he would send the dead men's relatives presents to "hide their bones and wipe away their tears."'· A month later, in
November, a large party from the Lower towns, led by Tistoe of Hiwassee, came to Charleston. Although Wawhatchee, the leader of the war party was not present, Tistoe could speak for fourteen towns.”
PAGE xxxi – 1759-5
But Lyttelton's efforts to keep the peace were not successful. The Cherokees decided to avenge their losses in Virginia on the people of the Carolina back country, ''where they could do it safely.mo4 Early in May, a gang suddenly struck unsuspecting settlers on the Catawba and Yadkin rive, taking fifteen scalps from men, women, and children. During the month, many warriors were reported leaving the Middle settlements to attack the Virginia frontier. From this time on, relations with the tribe rapidly deteriorated. Moitoi of Hiwassee, head man of the Valley towns, went to Mobile to talk with the French, and the Mortar's camp in the fork of the Coosa and Coosawatchee rivers became a gathering place for the Hiwasee Indians. The French were expected to supply the camp with arms and ammunition
PAGE xxxii -
“To gain the council’s support for his expedition to the Lower towns, Lyttelton decided to take the Indians hostage, too.”
PAGE xxxiii -
“Since there were Catawba warriors in the Lower towns, some of the soldiers became alarmed and deserted.”
PAGE xxxiv -
“But the fiasco at Fort ·Prince George incensed the Lower townsmen.”
PAGES 7 - 8 - 1754-9-21
May it please your excellency, All the Headmen of seven Towns met at choettee. Old Hopp speaks in behalf of them all and returns your
Excellency and beloved Men hearty thanks for the Ammunition you sent up to them by
Jarnes Beamer which was safely delivered to us, but we still desire your Excellency to supply us with the same Quantity more.
OLD HOPP TOSSENTY TELASSEY
CHUKENANTA WARRIOR TOSSETY OF SETTICOE
CLAVE CATCHER OF TENNESSY KELLELUSSTEKEY OF TALLASSEY
EMPEROR WARRIOUR OF TOKOA
CANORCORTUKER of CHOETTEE SEQUROUGUENOY of TELLICOE
PAGES 15 – 20 – 1754-7-22
LUDOVIC GRANT TO GOVERNOR GLEN
Cherrokees, Tomalty Town, 22d July, 1754
. . .
Your Excellency may remember in the last Letters by Mr. Buttler, I gave an Account of a Message sent to Old Hopp by the Governor of Virginia inviting the Emperour and Little Carpenter in thither, in order to receive some Presents as the Letter specified, sent for them from the King of England. Abraham Smit h who was the Messenger went in Person over the Hills, and as I can learn received one verbal Comp1iment for another to carry Home with him. However Smith returned with expedition Erom Virginia to Kewohee the second Time and proceeded no further, but from thence sent the second Letter which he had brought by one of the Virginia Traders who was there at Kewohee at that Time to Old Hopp who said he was much obliged to the .Governor of Virginia for his Correspondence, but that as he was promised by his first Messenger, Ammunition and war Utensils, and that not being not according to Promise, neither he nor his People could make Powder, and Bullets, and other Things they wanted, and Paper alone, meaning the Letters, would not defend them from their Enemies either at Home or abroad and upon slight Excuses altogether decline going.
. . .
This Summer one of the Virginia Traders, -Paris by Name, whom I have before mentioned with a young man Paris, his Hireling, a Negroe Man, and John Hatton’s Sister, a half-breed, had almost been killed in the Great Terequa path from Canoste
. . .
“There have been but few ·killed in any of the Middle settlements and the Lower Towns that I can hear of.”
Page 23 – 1754-11-14
GOVERNOR GLEN TO lUE CHEROKEE HEAD MEN .
OF THE OUT TOWNS
Copy of a Letter from the Governor of South Carolina to his good Friends and Brothers, the Headmen of the Out Towns of Tuccaseegin Kehoway and Steecoy &c. &c.:
November 14tth, 1754
Good Friends and Brothers, I have received your Letter of Thanks for the
Two Baggs of Powder, and four bags of Bullets that I lately sent you by
PAGE 49 -
“I have all the principal Men of the Lower Towns down with me and would have had them
down two Months ago if it was not for the Overhills People delaying and their Excuse is they are afraid of loseing their People by Sickness.”
PAGE 53 -
“The 13th Smith hearing the Warriors were gone back set of again for Chote being of Opinion, that he, Beamer, and the Warriours of the Lower Towns (who he said were most uneasy to be gone to the English) when the Overhills Warriours should come thither that they could. persuade them to proceed in Company with them to Carolina.”
PAGE 75 -
The Garrison of Kewohee, though but a few Soldiers therein, is a great Encouragement to the Lower Towns, and was there another over the Hills which has been often talked of and desired by the Indians with a sufficient Number of Men therein, would strengthen this Nation from any Attempts of the French, and further secure Allegiance to the English and encourage them the better to fight for themselves and us if need, at any Time, should so require.”
“How long will it be possible to do it I know not, for Northward Indians are frequently coming in and several of Lower Towns are going Home With twenty of the Catawbaws who came into this Nation to awaken the Confirmation of their long Peace.”
PAGE 122 -
“Since my Letter’s wrote, Mr. Beamer, the father, and Mr. Richard Smith came here, and reported that fifty Indians, with some of their Heads, of the Lower Towns came to meet us
half Way from this Place, being in high Spirits,.”
“The Speech of Captain Raymond Demere to, the Chief Men of the five Lower Towns of the. Cherrockees, deliver¢ at Fort Prince George the 2oth Day of June, 1756 in Presence of Mr.
Smith and Beamer, Linguisters”
PAGE 123 -
“The Answer of the Chiefs or the Five Lower Towns of the Cherockees to Capt. Raymond Demere.”
PAGE 124 -
“They desire that their Brother the Governor intends them any Presents, begs that he would separate them and send those allotted. for the five Lower Towns by themselves, as their Brother
can divide them: more to their Satisfaction than they possibly could do, and it would prevent any differences arising betwixt them and the Overhills Cherockees.”
PAGE 126 -
“Mr. Benn, the Messenger that went over the Hills, is not returned, I heartily wish Matters may be in as good a Situation over the Hills as they are in those Lower Towns, which I can say with the greatest Assuredness they are in the firmest Friendship and Alliance with us, and offer themselves, should there be Occasion, to take you by the Hand and lead you over the Hills together with the Middle Towns.”
“Sir., Great Numbers of Indians are now about me, and will not disperse till the Messenger is gone. They say they will see him on horseback to go to their beloved Brother, and they have earnestly required of me that the great. Guns might be fired again for his good and safe Return, to hear soon. from You, and at the same Time to let the Lower Towns hear the Sound of the Guns and to know the Time he departed which I obliged so to do.”
PAGE 139 -
“I communicated your Excellency's good and friendly Intentions to them which they were pleased at but the Little Carpenter found Fault with the Head Men of the Lower Towns to send down any Proposals or any thing else to your Excellency without first acquainting him and Old Hopp who are Rulers and Commanders in Chief of all the Towns in the Cherrockee Nations.”
PAGE 145 -
“In regard to your Excellency's Request concerning the Number of Gunmen there is in the Middle and Lower Towns I have applied to Mr. Beamer who told me that he could not exactly tell at that Time but that he would get the best Account of them that he possibly could and would let me know in a short Time. I am with Respect.”
PAGE 150 -
I also desire that you would give me an exact Account of the Number of Gun Men there is in the Lower Towns and also in the Middle Towns.
PAGE 152 -
Some of the Lower Towns propose to sett out from here to wait on your Excellency about the l0th of September
PAGE 160 -
“Wawhatchey the Headman of these Lower Towns told me that a Party of his young Warriors would be in Readiness to go to War against the French &c. in a few Days, and says that by a Runner from their Brothers, the Catawbaws, they have received a Talk and that six Days hence he expects 30 of them here in order to gather a large Body of the Cherockees and proceed to the Assistance of Virginia.”
“It surprizes me very much that the Upper Cherrockees should be in such Friendship with the Savannah Indians, when these Lower Towns would willingly join to cutt them off, which is the Reason that they never come amongst them.”
PAGE 164 -
“Sir, Since my last to your Excellency bearing Date the 11th Instant Wawhatchey, the Headman of the Lower Towns, waited on me and brought with him John Hatton for a Linguister.”
PAGE 166 -
“The Headmen of the Lower Towns are to resolve and fix on a Time they are to sett out to wait on your Excellency, at Eastetoa Town, where they are to 'meet to , have a Green Com Dance.”
PAGE 170 -
“Your Excellency's, having the same at Heart increases, my' Desire and Wishes to see End to it to give intire Satisfaction; in regard to what your Excellency.is pleased; to mention, to me about
Till the' Indians to stop 'and divert them from coming till the Time you propose coming to Charles Town, were they only some of the Middle and Lower Towns I might do it, but now I think it is gone too far for on the Invitation you sent the Little Carpenter.”
PAGE 195 -
“I had Yesterday with me most Part of the Middle and Lower Towns Headmen and informed them with these flying Reports going about from Old Hopp at Chotta”
PAGE 200 -
“I cannot but say that these five Lower Towns have behaved very well during the whole Time I have been here and particularly of late and have shewn a vast deal of Concern when any thing has been said against the English.”
“Therefore with Sub mission I recommend them to your Excellency as People attached to us and
as Headmen of these five Lower Towns to not be saving on the present Situation of Affairs for fearing of looseing them.”
PAGE 202 -
“This Day. the following Speech was delivered to Capt. Raymond Demere by the following Principal Men of the Lower Towns and a numerous Throng of young Warriours &c.”
PAGE 204 -
“He says that he has the Promise of some of their Warriours to go to Virginia but what Number is uncertain and that what goes with him are mostly from the Lower Towns, there riot being more than seven or eight from the Upper Towns.”
PAGE 205 -
“The News brought here the 11th by Major Lewis from the Overhill and the Conferrences Capt. Demere has had with the Cherockees, Lower Towns, give Occasion for sending this Express.”
PAGE 208 -
“But however these Middle and Lower Towns are more, to all Appearances, inclined to our Interest than those above the Hills.”
PAGE 212 -
“They are to sett off about Days 5 hence. We hear by the Indians that they are to insist upon the Lives of two but the Lower Towns People say they shall have but one.”
“This. was the Report they had in the Nation and was what the Lower Towns told to the Upper
Towns.”
PAGE 230 -
“I am informed by good Authority that the People of the Lower Towns have said that if the Creeks did fire first at the White People that they met with only their Due.”
PAGE 245 -
“He says that some Time past he sent a Belt of Wampom to the Middle Towns and another to the Lower Towns signifying to those Towns that he should stay at Home all this Winter so that he says there is not one in the Nation but knows that he is at Home.”
PAGE 249 -
“We must lay hold on all Means and Measures to keep (at any Rate whatever) the Indians of
Upper Towns as well as those of the Middle and Lower Towns strongly to our Intrust.”
PAGE 250 -
“They have certainly a great many Relations in these Upper Towns as well as the Middle and Lower Towns, but it is to be hoped that Nothing of this Nature will influence them in their Favour.”
PAGE 261 -
“I hear that the Indians of the Middle and Lower Towns are come back and are all well pleased with your Excellency's kind Reception.”
PAGE 290 -
“Robert Dinwiddie, Esq., His Majesty's Lieutenant Governor and. Commander in Chief of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia to the Sachems, Warriors and Head Men or the [Upper
and Lower Towns of the Cherokees Nation of Indians, wishing you much Health and Prosperity:”
PAGE 310 -
“I shall conclude having the Pleasure to inform your Excellency that the whole Nation of the Cherrockees, Upper, Middle and Lower Towns, except the Great Town of Tellico which I hope will be soon reconciled to us, never were more strongly attached to the English to all Appearance then they are at this Time.”
PAGE 319 -
“There is a Fellow called the Bigg Raven, who lives in Settico, went down to the Lower Towns in order to go out a Hunting from thence, but he made it his Brag that he would not come in without some of the Creeks' Scalps,”
PAGE 324 -
“SIR, I received a Letter from Capt. Stuart bearing Date at Keowee the loth Instant importing that the Middle and Lower Towns were but very little more to be depended on then the Tellico People, so that I must still acquaint you that Matters are in a very unsettled Condition in this Nation.”
PAGE 408 -
“I desire that you will immediately on Receipt hereof communicate the Contents to Wauhatchee of Keowee and some other Head Men of the Lower Towns and send the same forward in the quickest Manner possible to the Commanding Officer at Fort Loudoun, over the Hills to communicate the same to Old Hop and his Headmen.”
PAGE 451 -
“May it please your Excellency, Since writing the above the Little Carpenter came to me early this Morning and told me that it was not an over the Hills Man that headed the Gang that killed the White People but some of the Lower Towns;”
PAGE 452 -
“Wee hear the Warriours that came from King George's Great Warriour is at the Lower Towns. We have not seen them, nor we have not as yet heard their Talk.”
PAGE 454 -
“Colonel Byrd arrived here last Friday and been with them all since; I hope he will carry every Man out of these Lower Towns a long with him that's able to carry a Gun.”
PAGE 463 -
“I have found every Thing that you said when we were together to be true and you shall find that I won't tell a Lie to you, for I will go to Virginia [against?] our Enemies and yours. Some of my People has been Rogues in our Lower Towns, but I hope that you won't remember it for we lost some of our People as well as our Brothers.”
PAGE 479 -
“William Henry Lyttelton Esquire, Captain General and Governor in Chief of the Province of South Carolina to the Headmen and Warriours of the Lower Towns of the Cherrockee Nation.”
PAGE 487 -
“On the 3d Instant I was acquainted that Moitoi of Setticoe and his Gang consisting of about twenty-five Men, was arrived in one of these Lower Towns, from the Northward, and that he had brought in some white Scalps, from the Dutch Settlement, your Excellency has so often heard of.”
“He often comes here, and Yesterday with some other Headmen came and acquainted me that Moitoi had with him ninteen white Scalps, and that there was still a Gang of twenty of the
Over Hill Indians out against the same Settlement, but desired me to acquaint you that the Lower Towns were of a quite different Way of thinking from the others.”
PAGE 488 -
“All the People of these Lower Towns are come Home who inform me that the Little [Carpenter] is highly disgusted and has talked much out of the Way since he left Town. He is not yet arrived.”
PAGE 491 -
The Lower Towns to the Goveror spoken by Wawhatchee.
Mv FRIEND AND BROTHER, All your Brothers of these Lower Towns are now met together with the white People, and as wee are all met do write you.
PAGE 492 -
“I give you therefore Gentlemen the above Notice, as early as I can in order that you may provide the proper Matters, as early as you can. The Lower Towns are very urgent for a Trade; and it is to them only, that we owe the Delivery of our fellow Creatures.”