Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-02-24
Historical Notes.
(Coatinued from our last.)

:, the occupation OF The lands III Inc " OrKs,
), appears by petition presented TO the Assem-
bly from man named Henry Webb, tha
8 "without any provocaton by him given, he
a had lately been very much abused and wounded
by the Indians, whereby he has suffered great
. Iy, and by the expense of his illness and los.
OF time, is reduced to extreme poverty" Ten
pounds were granted for his relief-At this
treaty. in reply TO demand made by Governor
Thomas for satisfaction CanassaiegO said, stha
the Six Nations had made diligent inquiry into
the affair, and had found out the Indian, who
broke Wsbb's jawbone. II lived near Esopus
and had been examined, and severely reprove,l
and they hoped, as Webb had recovered, the
Governor would not press for any further pun
ishment" The provincial authorities having
been SO successful in obtaining their ends, in
regard TO the disputed lands did not persist ia
their demands. but let the matter drop.
1t is now nearly century, since the Della
wares abandoned their rights TO the country,
from which they werG compelled to remove by
the arbitrary commands of power, though many
families still remained on portions of tracts un-
settled or unsurveye yed--o,hers would occasion
ally come from their new homes, TO revisit the
scenes OF their youth, and observe with melan-
choly interest the changes which were occur
ring In the land of their fathers-this practice
was continued until the revolutionary war and
| within the recollection of several persons still
living In this viciniiy--there exist but few re-
mains of tine aborigines at this day-the most
distinct is probably burial ground on the high
lands directly opposite the lower part Of "Shaw
nee lsland"-it is now covered with trees of
a vigorous growth, though tho mounds and cav
tiles may sill be traced The site of the pres
ent town of Easton was occupied for several
years by Indians after the treaty of l742, pro-
badly owing 10 the circumstance, that the land
in lis vicinity was not Immediately offered for
sale by the Penns, who were well aware of
Its eligible situation for town, and thought. ii
more zc c'antageous TO their interests, to have
The country around settled, before bringing it
into the market. |, was here, that the cele-
braed missionary David Brainerd took up his
abode, for the purpose of preaching the gospel
among the heaihen.-A beautiful account Of his
self-devotion, his religious zeal, his unliring pa
tlence under difficulties arising from his wretch
ed health, and the slight success, which at
tended his first efforts, in converting the lnd-
ans TO Christianity, may be gathered from his
published Journal OF the rise and progress of
a remarkable work of grace among number Of
Indians in Pennsylvania"
He was in the 26,h year of his age, when
he set out on horseback from bis native place
Haddam, Connecticut, to the then savage wiIds
of the " Forks" The first Sabbath of his Jour
ney was spent among some German and Irish
people, abou. IL miles from his place of des-
,ination. He was for some time almost dis
couraged At the prospect, of conversion, and
says, that midnight itself was not SO dark" L
give an extract from his journal, from which
we may see, the temper Of The people, to whom
he hoped to be a messenger of salvation, and
the mode of reasoning employed by them, to
reject his labours.
May 10Th, l744-''I met with a number of
Indians at Minisinks---I spent some time with
them, and first addressed their chief in a friend
ly manner, expressing my desire to instruct
them IN Chrislianlty--at which he laughed
turned his back upon ms, and went away---af-
ter some time followed him into house and
renewed my discourse---but he declined talk
ing and left the affair to another, who appeared
TO be a rational man. He began and talked
very warmly for quarter of an hour, and en-
quired, why desired the Indians 10 be chris
tians seeing, the Christians were so much
worse than the Indians in their present state
the Christians would both lie, and steal and
drink worse than the Indians. 1t was they,
first taught the Indians TO drink and they stole |
from one another to that degree, that their ru-
lers were obliged to hang them for it: that was
not sufficient TO deter them from the Practice
but the Indians he added were none Of them
ever hanged for stealing, and yet they did not
steal half so much, and he supposed if the In
dians should become Christians, they would
then be about as bad as these-and thereupon |
he said, they would live as their fathers lived,
and 60 where their fathers were, when they
died. / then joined with them, in condemnng
the i'll conduct of some who are called Chris
tians, told him, they were no, Christians in
heart, that hated such wicked practices, and
did not desire the Indians to become such as
lhese--and when he appeared calmer, asked
him if ne was willing should come and see
hem agan-he replied, he should be willing to
see me again as a friend, if | would not desire
hem TO become Chris,ians-I then bade them