Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-01-15

badly SuppOSlng the matter mgnt edSIly lave
been accommodated with them, IN some future
treaty)no sooner had be the land surveyed to him
than he began TO sell it to those who would I'M
mediately settle it. A short time previous when
some persons wished to take up lands in the
Minisinks, James Logan the Secretary of the
Land Office wrote TO the Surveyor of Bucks
county TO prevent it. This appears from the
annexed copy Of letter dated
PHILADELPHIA, November 20, 1927.
" Friend Thos Watson:-
This morning wrote to thee by Jacob Taylor
concerning warrants that may be offered thee
to be laid out on the Minsink lands. and was
then of the opinion, that the bearer hereof, Jo-
seph Wheeler, proposed TO lay his, there
Having since seen him, he tells NE he has no
such thought, but would have it laid three or
four miles above Durham, on spot of pretty
good land amongst the hills, and, think, at
some distance from the river, proposing as he
SAYS, to live there himself, with his kinsman,
who was here, with him. Pray take the first
opportunity to mention it to ]. Langhorne; for,
if he has no considerable objection to it (that
is, if he has laid no right on it) | cannot see
that we should make any other than that 1t IS
not purchased of the Indians, which is so mate
rial one that, without their previous engage
ment 10 part with it very reasonably, it cannot
be surveyed.
This is what offers on this head from thy
loving friend,
JAMES LOGAN"
Here it is stated on the best authority that
the whites had no right beyond the Lehigh
hills. Bucks county then included all the
country in the Eastern and n. E. parts of the
province and J. Langhone was one of the prin-
cipal Magistrates. Where Joseph Wheeler
settled at that time, do not know, but | find
among the petitions for road In Smlthfield
| township not many years after, his name at the
head, it is not improbable, therefore, that he
| did not regard the prohibition of the Propriea-
ries ofices-many others must have followed
Wheeler's example, for the discomfort of the
Indians continued to increase and it became
necessary on the part of the Governor Thomas
Penn, Son of the great founder, TO compose
their clamors. After several Intellectual at
temps, he is said to have complained of them,
to the Six Nations. In 1876, Deputies from
that tribe arrived at Philadelphia and treaty
was held with them, at which Conrad Weiser
German settled in Tulpehocken, acted as in
terpreter.
Presents having been literally bestowed on
| them, they made deeds confirming the deed Of
1896 obtained as before related by VIM. Penn,
through Gov. Dongan, for lands on both sides
of Susquehanna.
These were signed by % chiefs-and it is
remarkable that ii of them on their return,
staid several days with Conrad Weiser at his
residence and there executed piece of writing,
declaring that "their intention and meaning,
by the former deed, was to release all their
pretensions to all the lands lying within the
limits of Pennsylvania, beginning Eastward
on the river Delaware as far Norlhward as the
ridge of Kittatinny or endless mountains, as
they cross the country from the Eastward TO
| the West" With respect to this writing, 1t is
10 be observed that. as the Six Nations claimed
no right, TO the lands on Delaware in the deed
of 1896, they could by the above instrument
convey none. 1t is said that it was not signed
until aftor great persuasiOns on the part of the
agent of the Proprietaries, and the express ad
mission of the chiefs, that they had nothing TO
do with these lands, and that they were afraid
they should do something amiss TO their cOuS
lnS the Delawares However, this fact may
have been, we find about eighteen months af-
terwards, the Proprietares procured release
from some Delaware chiefs, for at least part
of these lands, or confirmation of the Supposed
deed of 1856, usually styled the walking pur-
chase. This singular release we give at length
| but before doing So we must add that to in-
crease the wrongs of the Indians, Thos Penn,
issued in 1875, proposals for a Lottery of l00,-
900 acres land, which those who drew prizes,
were by the 9Th article, allowed to clay out
any where within the Prvince, except on lands
already taken up, provided nevertheless, that
such persons who are settled on lands without
warrants for the same, and may be entitled TO
prizes, either by becoming adventures them
selves, by purchasing prize tickets, may have
liberty tolay their rights on the lands here they
are so seated" So that there was 40 excep-
ton OF lands unpurchased OF the Indians, but
rather an express provision for those who had
unjustly seated themselves there. Again, IN
the last article, sit is further agreed that where
as several of the adventurers may be unac-
quainted with proper places whereon to locate
the prizes, they will be entitled to- several tracts
of the best vacant lands shall be laid out and