At a Council held in the Council Chamber
at Pensacola on Tuesday the 17th. day of March 1778.
Read the Minutes of the last Council day (the 10th. Instant) which were approved
His Excellency laid before the Board a Letter which he had received from Wm. Hiorn—Richd Ellis and Joseph Thompson Esqrs. three of the Principal Inhabitants of the Natchez District dated the 23d Februrary 1778 inclosing a Copy of the Terms of accomodation Settled between the Delegates of the People & their Associates and Mr James Willing who Commanded the Party of Rebels which came into that part of this Province and the same being Read were ordered to be entered on the Minutes and are as follows
Natchez 23d Febry 1778
May it Please your Excellency
We are Extremly unhappy to inform you that on Friday the 20th. Instant Capt. James Willing in the Service of the Thirteen United States of America did almost at one and the same time Surprize and take Prisoners the Principal Inhabitants of this Country; who in order to prevent themselves being carried Prisoners to New orleans together with their Slaves &C were obliged to call a meeting and assent to the Conditions which are here Tra[n]smitted to Your Excellency.
The deplorable Situation of this District is such that we have every thing to fear from the Cruelty of the Indians our neighbours and therefore pray Your Excellency will use your utmost endeavours to prevent a people so unfortunate from falling a Sacrifice to the Merciless Cruelty of Barbarians.
Wishing you Health and every Blessing that this life can afford we are
Your Excellency &c &c &c
Wm Hiorn
Richard Ellis
Joseph Thompson
Natchez District
to Wit
Whereas on Thursday evening the 19th. Instant Captain James Willing in the Service of the United States of America arrived with a detachment of Men under his command at the Natchez Landing and the next morning Early sent out Sundry Parties who almost at one and the same time made the Inhabitants Prisoners of War on their Parole and having hoisted the Colours of the said United States and taken Possession of the Country in their name, The Inhabitants in this distressed and unprotected State fearing a Confiscation of their property thought it necessary to wait on the said Captain Willing to propose Terms of Accomodation which he readily agreeing thereto the said Inhabitants unanimously Delegated the four following Gentlemen to Treat for them and make the best Terms they Possibly Could
William Hiorn Esqr.
Samuel Wells Planter
Charles Percy Esqr.
&
Major Luke Collins
And as we the Delegates have obtained leave from the People to call in any Persons to our assistance, we may think proper we have desired the following Gentlemen
Isaac Johnson Esqr.
Richard Ellis Esqr.
&
Joseph Thompson Planter—
We the Delegates of the People and our Associates do propose the following Terms to Captain James Willing
First—That we will not take up Arms against the united States of America or aid Abet or in any wise give assistance to the Enemies of the said States
Agreed—
Secondly That our Persons Slaves and other Properties of what kind so ever shall remain safe and unmolested during our neutrality
Agreed
Thirdly That a list of the names of the Slaves of the Inhabitants shall on Honor be given in
Agreed
Fourthly That Captain Willing shall engage to send a Flag of Truce to the Chactaw Nation to give out a Talk with a Belt to prevent the Indians falling on this defenceless District—
Agreed.
Fifthly—That Captain Willing having in his Custody as a Prisoner one Robert Welsh in whose Possession was found an order from Farquhar Bethune Esquire Commissary for the Chacktaw Nation to obstruct Harrass distress and oppose any Party of Americans coming down the River and it appearing to the Inhabitants of this District that the life of the said Robert Welsh was in Danger they Petitioned the said Captain Willing on his behalf who Immediately set him at Liberty; and shall engage to send him with the flag into the Chactaw Nation he having great Interest with them to incline them to Peace
Agreed.
Sixthly—That the Delegates and their Associates shall have leave to send a Copy of these Articles to Governor Chester at Pensacola accompanied with a Letter requesting His Excellency will take such Steps as shall prevent the Indians falling upon the Inhabitants
Agreed.
Seventhly—That the Delegates and their associatesdo in and on the behalf of the People take the following Oath: That they will not take up Arms or otherwise Act to the prejudice of the United States of America nor will by any means Comfort or abet furnish with Arms or Ammuniton the Enemies of said States neither will they Furnish the Savages with Warlike Stores against the said States nor in Word or deed (except in the foregoing Article) treat with their Enemies but observe a Strict neutrality
Agreed—
Eighthly That the Delegates shall appoint one of their Body to accompany the said Captain Willing to New orleans
Agreed
Natchez District West Florida
Signed this Twenty first day of February
one thousand seven hundred and Seventy eight
Agreed to in the fullest extent |
Delegates— |
in Behalf of the United States of America |
Wm Hiorn |
L S |
(All Publick Officers of the Crown of |
Sam: Wells— |
L S |
Great Britain who have property |
Chars Percy— |
L S |
in this District Excepted) those who |
Luke Collins— |
L S |
have held Commissions & have |
|
|
Signed the Oath of Neutrality come |
Associates— |
within the above Articles |
Isaac Johnson |
L S |
Jas Willing |
Richard Ellis |
L S |
Captain in the Service of the United States— |
Joseph Thompson— |
L S |
NB The Property of all British Subjects
who are non Residents in this District
also Excepted they being Enemies of the
said State
James Willing
Mr Alexander McIntosh A Merchant at the Natchez well known for his Loyalty and Attachment to His Majestys Person and Government (who brought the above mentioned Letter) attending by desire of the Board was then called in and gave the following Information upon Oath.
Information upon Oath of Alexander McIntosh of the Natchez District Merchant taken at Pensacola before His Excellency Peter Chester Esquire Captain General and Governor in Chief of His Majestys Province of West Florida &C &C &C Council.
This Informant saith That on the Nineteenth day of February now last past he was in a Batteau on his Way up the River Mississippi to Aux Arcs together with William Eason and William Williams when being a little above Coles Creek, about eight or nine Leagues higher up the River than the Natchez landing between the Hours of Eight and Nine in the Evening as they were at supper in their Batteau they were met by a Party of about Eighteen Men in a large Batteau Commanded by one McIntyrea Pensylvanian and a Lieutenant in the Rebel Service1 among whom was Thomas Newman (formerly a Trader at the Natchez). That this Newman hailed them asking who they were which Willm. Eason told him This Newman then Swore that he had been Robbed at Aux Arcs by the Arkansa Indians—that with great difficulty he had saved his own and his peoples lives from the said Indians and then prayed this Informant and his party (for Gods Sake) if they had any thing to Drink to give him some—to which Eason answered that he had—Newman then desired Eason to light up his Fire that he might see to get ashore—which was accordingly done That fourteen or fifteen of the said Party then jumped out of the Boat all at once Each Armed with a Rifle Gun and Tomahawk That McIntyre called to this Informant by name—where are you? to which this Informant replied You have the advantage of me I dont know you—That as he was on the Gang Board Stepping on Shore, McIntyre with his Party came up and told him he was a Prisoner of War to the United States of America Adding "Ill take care of you that damned Scoundrel James Willing is come once more to pay you a Visit," (alluding to this Informants former Expressions about Willing) That McIntyrethen brought this Informant and his People to the Fire & demanded of him if he had any Letters or any other Company—to which he Answered he had no Letters, but was in Company with Williams and Eason on his Way to Aux Arcs about his Private Business—The same Question was then put to Williams and Eason who answered that they had some Letters McIntyre thereupon sent them on Board their Batteau with a Party of his own men to bring all the Letters they had and deliver them up to him upon receipt of which they opened and looked at them and then put them in his Pocket after which he Sent this Informant Williams and Eason on Board the Rebel Boat and a party of his own Men on Board their Batteau to take Charge of her—That as they were going down the River another large Canoe full of Men Commanded by one Robert George (a Virginian Born and a Lieutenant in the Rebel Service)2 Joined them. That the same night this Informant and the others were Carried down to the Natchez landing where they arrived about midnight—and were kept Prisoners on Board That one of their Canoes was Stationed a little above & the other a little below & the Batteau at the Natchez landing with Strict orders to keep a Suff~cientGuard at the Batteau That the Two Lieutenants Landed with the remainder of their Party and Securred every Inhabitant at the landing with all their Slaves, after which a Party was sent out for the two Harrisons (Richard and Reuben,) who lived about one Mile Distant with whom Richard Harrison returned (having a Small sworn [sword] on) and Joined the Rebels (as this Informant believes from having seen him afterwards wear a Rebel Cocade) That at Break of day Mr Willing arrived in a Batteau called the Rattle or Rattle Trap during which time this Informant had been brought ashore and lodged a Prisoner in Richard Bacons House at the landing aforesaid. That upon Willings arrival different Parties were sent off to bring in the Neighbouring Inhabitants who were soon afterwards all brought in That Willing ordered a Party out to kill this Informants Cattle for Provisions under which pretence Several head of his Cattle were wantonly Shot down and left laying where they fell That the Party who were sent to Rifle this Informants house robbed him of all his Provisions being upwards of 5000 lb Weight—drove in 22 Head of his Hogs and killed them at the landing—That he was detained a Close Prisoner untill Saturday the 21st. of February in the afternoon when he was Released on his Parole. When Just as he arrived at his House a Party of fifteen Men who had been sent after him came up with and brought him Back to Willing who detained him untill the next day (Sunday) in the afternoon when he was again Released And this Informant also saith that he heard Mr Willing declare that 2000 Men under the Command of A General Morgan3 would be down the River in the Spring to take Possession of this Country. That Robert George told him their Party consisted of about Twenty five Men at first who came from Fort Pitt on the 12th. January which Party was increased to about one hundred men Chiefly picked up on the Ohio and the upper part of the Mississippi—That they had plundered Mr Hutchins4 of the 18 Slaves and all his other property—also Joseph Dawes of a Negroe Wench and had taken 4 Negroes 4 Horses & all the Hogs belonging to Henry Stuart Esqr. That Mr Willings Sent out to Kill one Beagleys Cattle and that he (willing) told him A Mr Elliot a Lieutenant5 had been sent down with Six Men in a Canoe and had gone three days a head of McIntyre with dispatches from the Congress to the Governor of Louisiana6 and Oliver Pollock7 a British Merchant residing at New orleans who has declared himself their Agent acquainting them with their Arrival &C. And added that the said Spanish Governor Mr Pollock and himself were appointed by the Congress to Condemn at New orleans the property he might Seize upon on his Way down the River and to Sell it for the benefit of the United States And this Informant farther saith that one Rabicaud a British Subject who lived at Aux Posts on the River Ouabache, (under the Command of Lieut. Governor abbot8) told him that he had a Batteau laden with Deer Skins Beaver &C to the amount of Ten or Twelve thousand Dollars which he was bringing down the River Mississippi and having heard that the Rebels were before him he went up the River Aux Arcs and applied to Mr Devellé9 the Spanish Commandant there for a pass to New orleans which pass he was refused—That while he was in the Fort of Aux Arcs he saw one Pountney10 a Trader there—which Pountney soon after he was gone got together a parcel1 of Hunters and came after him to the River Mississippi Seized his Batteau as British Property & carried her back to Aux Arcs to Mr Develleé who Immediately sent her off under a Guard of a Corporal & Six Men to Mr Willing at the Natchez (which Information was Corroborated by that of a Joseph and Thomas Holmes of the Natchez who had been employed by Said Pountney in Seizing the said Batteau) and that this Informant saw the said Batteau and Cargoe delivered up at the Natchez landing to Mr Willing by the Said Spanish Corporal as British Property Seized for the use of the Americans That Mr Blommart11 While Trading on the English side at Aux Arcs was seized with all the property he had and brought down to the Natchez—and when Willing went away he left Blommart there on his parole for Two or three days to Settle his affairs, & then to come down to New orleans with Mr Hiorn, the Commissioner12—That Mr Hiorn told this Informant that Willing had Two Commissions one as Captain in the Rebel Army and the other as Captain of a Rebel Privateer—That he (this Informant) understood that Mr Willing had been joined at the Natchez by the Two Harrisons William Reid a Blacksmith and Francis Dolony a practitioner in Physick That Willing said he should in going down the River begin at Mr Castle's13 Plantation at British Point Coupeé and take all the Slaves and property belonging to the English Plantations down to Manchack That the said Willing set off from the White Cliffs at the Natchez on Tuesday the 24th day of February having left behind him as he was told Some ammunition in a Small Store belonging to Mr William Williams under the Care of one Thomas Coomstock a man-who had Joined them up the River. And this Informant saith that he left the Natchez on Sunday the first instant—came thro' the Chacktaw Nation & arrived in this Town on Monday the 16th. Instant and farther saith not—
Sworn in the Council Chamber
at Pensacola on Tuesday the 17th.
March 1778 before His Excellency
in Council
Attest. Richd. Combauld D Cler: Concii.
Mr McIntosh farther acquainted His Excellency that he had been deputed by the Inhabitants of the Natchez to apply to him for one hundred Troops to be Immediately Stationed there in which Case the Inhabitants Promised to break their engagement of Neutrality and to Join with the Troops in their own defence That they would willingly assist with the Small Force they had in repairing the old Fort14 or Buildings Barracks for the said Troops and that he (Mr McIntosh) would pledge himself for the true performance thereof and would help to Support them with Provisions.
His Excellency then desired the Opinion of the Board thereupon but it being late the Board deferred giving their Advice immediately and were adjourned untill tomorrow morning Ten of Clock.