Croghan's Transactions with the Indians Previous to Hostilities on the Ohio[1]
In November 1748 Mr Hamilton arrived in Philadelphia, Governor of Pennsylvania. During the late war
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- ↑ This paper is reprinted from New York Colonial Documents, vii, pp. 267-271. It accompanied a letter from Croghan to Sir William Johnson, in
which he says, "Inclosed you have a copy of some extracts from my old journals relating to Indian Affairs, from the time of Mr. Hamilton's arrival
as Governour of this Province till the defeat of General Braddock; all which
you may depend upon are facts, and will appear upon the records of Indian
Affairs in ye several Governments."
After Croghan had been commissioned captain by the Pennsylvania authorities, 'he continued in Command of one of the Companies he had raised, and of Fort Shirley on the Western frontier about three months, during which time he sent, by my direction, Indian Messengers to the Ohio for Intelligence, but never procured me any that was very material, and having a dispute with the Commissrs about some accounts between them, in which he thought himself ill-used; he resigned his commission, and about a month ago informed me that he had not received pay upon Gen! Braddock's warrant, and desired my recommendation to Genl Shirley, which I gave him, and he set off directly for Albany, & I hear is now at Onondago with Sr Wm Johnson."—(Letter of Governor Morris, July 5, 1756, in Pennsylvania Archives, ii, pp. 689, 690.) Sir William Johnson, having more penetration than the Pennsylvania authorities as to the value of Croghan's services, immediately appointed him his deputy, in which position he continued for several years. When he presented himself to the governor's council in Philadelphia, December 14, 1756, "the Council knowing Mr. Croghan's Circumstances was not a little surprised at the Appointment, and desired to see his Credentials"—(Pennsylvania Colonial Records, vii, p. 355). In regard to his services during this period, see New York Colonial Documents, vii, pp. 136, 174) 175, 196, 211, 246, 277, 280; Pennsylvania Colonial Records, vii, pp. 435, 465, 484, 506; viii, 175; Pennsylvania Archives, iii, pp. 319, 544.
Sir William Johnson was born in Ireland in 1715, came to New York at an early age, and settled as a trader in the Mohawk Valley. He was adopted into the Iroquois nation, and acquired power in their national councils, retaining them in the English interest during the French and Indian War. After the battle of Lake George, Johnson was rewarded with a baronetcy, and secured the surrender of Niagara in 1759. rom that time until his death in 1774, he was occupied with Indian negotiations, chief of which was the treaty of Fort Stanwix (1768).—Ed.
