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Creator: Pickering, Timothy
Date: 1791-04-17
Text: Brothers, Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors of the Six Nations When I took you by the hand, last Fall, at Tioga, the chain of friendship was brightened between you and the United States; and you expressed your wishes to keep it always bright. On the part of the United States, I assured you of their regard for you, and their desire to maintain with you perpetual peace and friendship. To renew those assurances, and again to brighten the chain, and to remove all causes of jealousies and discontents,...
Show moreBrothers, Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors of the Six Nations When I took you by the hand, last Fall, at Tioga, the chain of friendship was brightened between you and the United States; and you expressed your wishes to keep it always bright. On the part of the United States, I assured you of their regard for you, and their desire to maintain with you perpetual peace and friendship. To renew those assurances, and again to brighten the chain, and to remove all causes of jealousies and discontents, I am desired once more to meet you, at such time and place as should appear to me most convenient. I therefore now propose the Painted Post as a proper place of meeting; and as it is important that the treaty be held as soon as possible, I propose that we should meet together at that place, by the 15th of June next. That time and place I hope will be convenient and agreeable to you; and I shall use my endeavor that everything else shall give you satisfaction. Brothers, You will naturally ask for what special purpose you are called to attend this Council Fire? - Brothers, I will be open and tell you. For at the Council Fire which I kindled at Tioga, in the name of our Great Chief, General Washington, & of the United States, I assured you that in all my conduct you should find me open and sincere. Without sincerity, how can friendship be preserved? Brothers, You know that some of the Western Indians have lifted up the hatchet and struck many citizens of the United States. You told me that the Shawanese had invited you to join them in a war against the United States; but that you had refused to join them. And you gave strong reasons for your refusal. You said that we sit side by side, and ought to live in peace. That you wished to keep the path between us open and clear, that you might pass and repass unhurt; and that you desired to be at peace with the United States, that your women & children might be in safety. Brothers, I was equally pleased with your determination and with the reasons on which it was founded. The same reasons must still influence you to hold fast your determination of maintaining peace with the United States. Some bad men, however, enemies of the United States, may endeavor to persuade you to engage in war, and by misrepresentations and lies, prevail on some, contrary to their own interest and the interest of the Six Nations. Now, Brothers, I am to kindle the proposed Council Fire at the Painted Post, to give you fresh assurances of the good-will of the United States, of their desire to make the chain of friendship with you still brighter & to keep it always bright; and to show you that the war with the Western Indians, is, on the part of the United States, not a war of choice, not of oppression, not of injustice, but of necessity, to defend our frontiers, and save the settlers from destruction. Brothers, according to the usual practice in treaties with Indians, the proposed treaty will be concluded with a present of goods. BrothersBrothers, I received great pleasure in the treaty held with you last fall at Tioga; and the manner in which it was conducted was entirely approved by the Great Chief of the United States. I hope and believe that the intended treaty will be equally pleasing, and give equal satisfaction to our Great Chief. Given under my hand and seal at Wyoming in the State of Pennsylvania, the seventeenth day of April 1791. Timothy Pickering
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Creator: Pickering, Timothy
Date: 1790-10-30
Text: 46. [In scrapbook, following 50] Pickering to Parrish. Tioga Point Oct. 30, 1790 Sir, I have received a message from the Indians. They are on their way. They desire that at the Paintend Post and Newtown Point that they may be supplied with provisions. As they will depend on such supply and it may induce them to hasten their journey, I have agreed to furnish it. Captain Ros goes forward for that purpose. With him are two of the Runners who arrived here last evening from the Seneca Nation. They...
Show more46. [In scrapbook, following 50] Pickering to Parrish. Tioga Point Oct. 30, 1790 Sir, I have received a message from the Indians. They are on their way. They desire that at the Paintend Post and Newtown Point that they may be supplied with provisions. As they will depend on such supply and it may induce them to hasten their journey, I have agreed to furnish it. Captain Ros goes forward for that purpose. With him are two of the Runners who arrived here last evening from the Seneca Nation. They are to return and meet the body of Indians, to inform them that provisions will be furnished at those two places, agreeably to their request. At the earnest desire of two of the Runners who are Chiefs, I have written a letter to the Indians which captain Ros will hand to you; and I request you to accompany the Runner to interpret the letter to them. As you can well interpret, they will have no pretense for sending for Jones, and thus delay their journey. I desire you to urge them forward as fast as possible. I am, Sir, your friend, (Signed) Timothy Pickering Mr. Jasper Parish.
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Creator: Pickering, Timothy
Date: 1791-04-18
Text: Wilkesbarre April 18th 1791. Sir, I am to hold another treaty with the Six Nations. I have proposed to hold it at the Painted Post on the 15th of next June. Tomorrow I shall send off an express to Canadanqui, to General Chapin and Joseph Smith, with a speech to be communicated to all the Six Nations, inviting them to the treaty. But it is possible Smith may he absent, and nothing more be done than to make the Indians understand that I am to hold a treaty with them as above mentioned....
Show moreWilkesbarre April 18th 1791. Sir, I am to hold another treaty with the Six Nations. I have proposed to hold it at the Painted Post on the 15th of next June. Tomorrow I shall send off an express to Canadanqui, to General Chapin and Joseph Smith, with a speech to be communicated to all the Six Nations, inviting them to the treaty. But it is possible Smith may he absent, and nothing more be done than to make the Indians understand that I am to hold a treaty with them as above mentioned. Therefore I wish you to come to Wyoming by the first of May at farthest, by which time I shall return from Philadelphia. I shall then give you my speech to carry first to the Indians at Geneseo & at Buffaloe Creek, and then to the Mohawks; and you must either go (if there be time) or get the Chiefs to send runners to the other four nations, to invite the Sachem Chiefs and Warriors to attend. My present idea is, that you will be in the Indian Country till the time of the treaty, and bring the Indians along with you. The business is important; and I trust you will let nothing prevent your engaging in it. I am your friend & servant Timothy Pickering. Mr. Jasper Parish.Coll. Pickering letter April 18 1791
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Creator: Pickering, Timothy
Date: 1791-05-09
Text: To Jasper Parish, Interpreter. Sir, I have informed you of the steps I have taken to assemble the Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors of the Six Nations at a treaty I am to hold with them, by the authority of the United States, at the Painted Post, on the waters of Tioga river. To confirm and enforce the invitation, I have thought it expedient to repeat it. I therefore now hand you a copy of my message of the 17th of last month, to the Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors of the Six Nations, and a fresh...
Show moreTo Jasper Parish, Interpreter. Sir, I have informed you of the steps I have taken to assemble the Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors of the Six Nations at a treaty I am to hold with them, by the authority of the United States, at the Painted Post, on the waters of Tioga river. To confirm and enforce the invitation, I have thought it expedient to repeat it. I therefore now hand you a copy of my message of the 17th of last month, to the Sachems, Chiefs and Warriors of the Six Nations, and a fresh message, referring to the former, and making some additional observations. Both these messages you are faithfully to interpret to the Indians, at all their castles which, you shall have time to visit. As to the other Indian settlements, you are to request the chiefs to send runners to them, to communicate my messages, and urge them to come to the treaty. If the chiefs of all the tribes attend, the treaty will be the more satisfactory to the Six Nations as well as to the United States. But an exception is to "be made in respect to the Cornplanter and any other chiefs who may have gone or are appointed to go with Colonel Procter, on his message of peace to the Western Indians. They are to perform that service in preference to attending the proposed treaty at the Painted Post. A sufficient number of Sachems, chiefs and warriors will remain behind to represent the Six Nations at the treaty. You will use jour endeavours to hasten them forward, that the treaty may be opened by the 15th of June next. I enquired at Philadelphia for belts and strings of wampum; but could hear of none. The custom of white people is to send messages and speeches on paper. This I explained to the Indians at Tioga; & they were satisfied with that mode of negotiation. Of my second message I give you a duplicate, to leave, when interpreted, with the Great Chiefs of the Seneca Nation. They will know my hand and seal affixed to it, and accept it in lieu of a belt. Use all diligence to accomplish the business with which you are now entrusted; and write me an account of your proceeding as often as opportunities shall present. Your friend Timothy Pickering. Wyoming May 9, 1791.Instructions to Jasper Parrish May 9, 1791
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Creator: Pickering, Timothy
Date: 1792-04-29
Text: Philadelphia April 29, 1792 Sir, I received your letter of the 28th of March, I was pleased with your improvement in writing. I have recommended you to the Secretary of War, and he will give you an appointment as a standing interpreter to the Five Nations. As soon as you receive this letter, come to Philadelphia and go to the war office for your appointment instructions. If I am not here, call on your friend Mr. Parrish to introduce you. Your friend, T. Pickering Mr. Jasper Parrish

Creator: Parish, Jasper, 1767-1836
Date: 1792-10-22
Text: Tranadarguary 8 Oct. 22 1792 Dear Sir These with my humble respects to you and yours. I will make free to inform you of my conduct since I came into this contra I immediately after leaving you I came to this place and from this to Buffalo Creek in company with Gen. Chapin and Capt. Hendrick according to your directions and instructions, and while we were at Buffalo Creek the Indians that went to Philadelphia calls a Counsil at that place of those Indians that sot on their seets to inform them...
Show moreTranadarguary 8 Oct. 22 1792 Dear Sir These with my humble respects to you and yours. I will make free to inform you of my conduct since I came into this contra I immediately after leaving you I came to this place and from this to Buffalo Creek in company with Gen. Chapin and Capt. Hendrick according to your directions and instructions, and while we were at Buffalo Creek the Indians that went to Philadelphia calls a Counsil at that place of those Indians that sot on their seets to inform them of their preseedings while in Philadelphia the Indians sent- for Mr. Jones to attend the Counsil fire he accordingly attended the Indians would not let Gen. Chapin nor me return untill the Counsil fire wane cotild we explain all the writings that thay brought home to those that sot on their seets thay was very much pleased with thair preseedings and after the Counsil the Indians all apeared to be wall satisfied frindly and united we weare obliged to give the Indians many presents on the account of their going to the westward with a message from Congress we expect them back in three weeks. I add no more but am Bear Sir your frind and humble servant Jasper Parrish Col. Pickering.N. B. the indians are Continually a round us begging for one thing and another but at the same time thay all appear to be friendly, to the inhabitantJasper Parrish Oct. 22d 1792
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